Stay Ahead of Stroke with These Two Steps
May 8, 2025
Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. It is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing someone every four minutes. And when the stroke isn’t deadly, it can be particularly debilitating, causing disabilities ranging from impaired speech to partial paralysis.
We often see the damage done by stroke at Southwestern Medical Center and know from experience the quicker we treat a stroke patient, the better the outcomes.
Like any disease, the first defense against stroke is prevention. A healthy lifestyle will significantly reduce your risk of stroke. That means exercising regularly, losing weight, eating healthier, and maintaining normal blood pressure (typically, around the 120 over 80 target, give or take a few points). It means quitting smoking and only drinking in moderation, if at all. Regular visits to your primary care physician ‒ at least annually ‒ are also strongly recommended.
The second defense against stroke is your power of perception. The FAST acronym was created to empower each of us to identify the signs of stroke and act accordingly. It is trumpeted every Stroke Awareness Month to encourage all of us to do our part to diminish the impact of the disease. Briefly, here’s what it tells us to look for and (if we see the signs) do:
- Face-drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech slurred
- Time to call 911
With stroke, time is brain. For every minute the brain is deprived of necessary blood flow, 1.9 million brain cells die. Recognizing the stroke warning signs and calling 911 immediately may make the difference between recovery and a normal life or permanent disability and even death. It varies, but in general, an individual suffering from stroke has 60 minutes ‒ the “golden hour” ‒ from onset to treatment to effectively restore blood flow and save threatened brain tissue.
This Stroke Awareness Month, be a part of the solution. Live a healthier lifestyle and commit the FAST acronym to memory.
If you would like to determine your level of risk for having a stroke, click here and take a free online stroke risk assessment.1