HOW TO IDENTIFY A STROKE If you notice symptoms such as weakness in extremities, numbness on one side of the body, excruciating headache, sudden dimness or loss of sight or inability to speak, the National Stroke Association says you need to act FAST by asking these questions:
F A S T
FACE – Does the smile droop on one side? ARMS – Is the person unable to raise both arms? SPEECH – Is the speech slurred? TIME – If the answer to any of these is yes, call 911 immediately.
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those people. A vegetarian for most of his life, he exercised regularly and was in very good health prior to his stroke. But a genetic predisposition for high blood pressure was a risk factor he couldn’t avoid. He is also African-American, which almost doubles his risk of stroke as compared to whites. Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) also increases the risk of stroke, especially in those over 75, because it can produce what Zangiabadi called “micro-clots” that, although small, can do significant damage. These tiny clots form in the upper chambers of the heart and can travel throughout the body, including to the brain where they can block blood vessels and cause stroke. Zangiabadi encourages all older patients to maintain a regular relationship with their health care providers—and he encourages those providers to communicate with each other as to the best course of treatment for their patients. “I especially urge dentists to speak to the patient’s primary care doctor at least three days before performing any treatment,” Zangiabadi said. He has seen several patients who, under the advice of their dentists, stopped taking their blood pressure and cholesterol medications prior to their dental procedures and subsequently suffered strokes. Today,Wilson is working hard to return to the radio talk show he has hosted on Sirius XM Radio for many years.And although Iris Wilson doesn’t take to the airwaves like her husband, she is making sure that she broadcasts to anyone who will listen the importance of acting quickly when dealing with stroke. “Time counts,” she said. “Minutes are precious.”
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ics will call us in advance to let us know the situation.” Zangiabadi said that while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, those tending to a stroke victim should help the person lie down. Do not offer medicine, food or liquid, since they may aspirate given their inability to swallow correctly. Do not give aspirin since it might cause additional bleeding in those whose strokes are caused by a burst blood vessel. Zangiabadi said the odds of surviving a stroke and avoiding permanent disability are improving thanks to advances in both public awareness of what to do if stroke is suspected, as well as medical interventions. Aggressive public education campaigns about the risk factors for stroke are also making a difference. He encouraged Americans to follow the Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” steps to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke: • Manage your blood pressure • Control cholesterol • Reduce blood sugar • Lose weight • Stop smoking • Eat better • Get active But he also added an eighth step: Reduce alcohol use since some studies indicate that having more than two drinks per day may increase stroke risk by as much as 50 percent. Although only a small portion of the population is at a higher risk for stroke because of specific genetic diseases, many, many Americans have a genetic tendency for risk factors such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure that put them at higher risk of stroke.Wilson is one of
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