stroke

Mitigate your risk

The risk of Black Americans having a first stroke is double that of Caucasians.

stroke

mitigate your risk

The risk of Black Americans having a first stroke is double that of Caucasians.

What is stroke?

A stroke is a “brain attack” that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. This occurs when something blocks blood supply or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. As a result, brain cells become irreparably damaged or die, leading to lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.

symptoms

Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Paralysis or numbness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden, severe headache
Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of coordination

It is important to act FAST if you think someone is experiencing a stroke:

F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?

T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away.

Risk Factors

High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Heart disease
Diabetes
Being overweight or obese
Sickle cell disease
Family history of stroke or heart attack
Your age. People over the age of 55 have a higher risk of stroke.
Your race. African Americans have a higher risk of stroke.
Your sex. Stroke is more common in women and they are more likely than men to die from stroke.

Ways to Prevent

Control your high blood pressure.
Lower the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat in your diet.
Stop smoking and using tobacco.
Control your diabetes with diet, exercise, and weight management control.
Eat a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
Try to participate in physical activity (walking, jogging, swimming, or bicycling) for about 30 minutes per day.
Drink alcohol in moderation. Drinking in excess can raise blood pressure levels and increase the level of fat in your blood.
Don’t stop taking your heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes medication without consulting your primary care provider.

treatment

Emergency treatment for stroke often includes medication and emergency surgery. Treatment may differ depending on the type of stroke you experienced:

An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery. It is the most common kind of stroke.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures.

Treat and Recover from Stroke

If you get to the hospital within 3 hours of the first symptoms of an ischemic stroke, you may get a type of medicine called a thrombolytic (a “clot-busting” drug) to break up blood clots. Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a thrombolytic. tPA improves the chances of recovering from a stroke.

Who is at RisK?

The older you are, the more likely you are to have a stroke. The chance of having a stroke about doubles every 10 years after age 55. Although stroke is common among older adults, many people younger than 65 years also have strokes.

After a stroke

Transient ischemic attack (“mini-stroke”)
If your stroke symptoms go away after a few minutes, you may have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a “mini-stroke.”

There is no way to know in the beginning whether symptoms are from a TIA or from a major type of stroke. Thus, call 911 right away if you feel signs of a stroke or see symptoms in someone around you.
Because TIAs are brief, many people ignore them. However, a TIA is a warning sign of a future stroke. More than a third of people who have a TIA and don’t get treatment have a major stroke within 1 year.

Recovery
After a stroke, you may still be dealing with problems with movement, breathing, swallowing, balance, and vision.

Your physician will likely recommend a stroke rehabilitation program
Speech therapy helps people who have problems producing or understanding speech.
Physical therapy uses exercises to help you relearn movement and coordination skills you may have lost because of the stroke.
Occupational therapy focuses on improving daily activities, such as eating, drinking, dressing, bathing, reading, and writing.

While everyone’s recovery and rehabilitation program will be different, your treatment team may include:

A neurologist
A physiatrist
Nurse
Dietitian
Physical therapist
Occupational therapist
Recreational therapist
Speech pathologist
Social worker
Case manager
Psychologist or psychiatrist
Chaplain

STATISTICS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR

People of color specific statistics
The risk of African Americans having a first stroke is double that of Caucasians.
African Americans have the highest rate of death due to stroke.
After experiencing a stroke, African-Americans are more likely to become disabled and experience difficulties with daily living and activities.