Stroke: How to Prevent One, How to Recognize One

May 20, 2019

Most of us can say we know someone who has had a stroke. The facts speak volumes:

A stroke happens every 40 seconds in the United States
Every 4 minutes, someone dies of a stroke
It is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States
Although they occur more commonly in those over the age of 65 years, it can occur at any age. The number of strokes occurring in people under the age of 60 years is climbing at an alarming rate.

The UVM Medical Center Stroke program wants to educate our community on the prevention of stroke and how to recognize symptoms to ensure timely treatment.

Stroke: How to Prevent One

There are some risk factors beyond our control: age, gender, race/ethnicity, and genetic factors.

That said, by controlling other factors, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. These include:

Ensuring a healthy diet and controlling one’s weight
Staying physically active
Avoiding excessive alcohol intake
Not smoking
Maintaining a healthy normal blood pressure
Keeping diabetes under control
Maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol
Controlling atrial fibrillation and if required taking appropriate blood thinners

How to Recognize the Symptoms

The earlier one recognizes and initiates treatment, the better the chances of a good recovery. Recognizing the symptoms and immediately calling 911 is the single most important step in surviving a stroke. Getting a stroke victim to a hospital, preferably a certified stroke center, for treatment provides the best assurance that they will survive this event and have a good functional recovery.

Use the acronym F.A.S.T to quickly assess someone who may be having a stroke. It stands for: