Stroke Awareness and Action

Stroke is not predictable. It can happen anywhere, anytime, though 80% of all strokes are preventable.

Remember F.A.S.T.?

The prevailing message of stroke awareness for the last 15 years remains the most important today - Act F.A.S.T.

Since the launch of F.A.S.T. in the U.K. in 2009, and in the U.S. in 2013, "B.E." has been added to the F.A.S.T. pneumonic, turning it into B.E.F.A.S.T.

B - Balance changes

E - Eye or vision changes

Readiness to spot warning signs of a stroke and call 9-1-1 could save a life or make the difference between a strong recovery and long-term disability. That’s why it’s important to learn the stroke warning signs and urge everyone you know to do the same.

The faster the stroke is treated, the more likely the patient is to recover, and a stroke is largely treatable. It’s a matter of getting the right treatment, right away.

Prevent a second stroke

One is more than enough, though unfortunately having a stroke puts your loved one at higher risk for a second one. 1 in 4 ischemic stroke survivors will have another stroke.

However, your loved one has the power to reduce their risk of having another stroke. Here's how:

• Working with your loved one's provider to identify the cause of the initial stroke and uncover previously unknown risk factors

• Managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes

• Managing atrial fibrillation (A-fib)

• Taking all medications as prescribed

• Working with your loved one's provider on a formal program for living a healthier lifestyle and making healthy lifestyle choices

• Calling 9-1-1 immediately if warning signs of stroke appear again

Most of the time, strokes in older adults are the result of a combination of multiple health and lifestyle factors. In addition to being at high risk for a second stroke, older adults are at risk of other events such as a major cardiac event, within roughly two years of the initial stroke.

The American Stroke Association offers an excellent downloadable and printable resource for preventing a second stroke: What to Do Instead of Having Another Stroke Checklist

Findings

Strokes are most prevalent in older adults. According to the CDC, fewer than 40% of people hospitalized because of a stroke are younger than 65. Overall, the risk of a stroke appears to increase most after the age of 60, with the average age around 74, and most common among people in their 90s.

Sadly, strokes in children, teens, and young adults are increasing at an alarming rate.

Persons with atrial fibrillation (A-fib) are also five times more likely to suffer a stroke than those with a regular heart rhythm.

WOMEN

Women have unique risk factors for stroke, including age. Because women generally live longer than men, more women have strokes over their lifetime.

Other unique risk factors include using certain types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and having higher rates of depression.

Stroke is the leading cause of death among African American women and the fourth leading cause of death among Hispanic women.

MEN

Men are at higher risk for stroke because over half of men have high blood pressure, and they are more likely to smoke and consume higher quantities of alcohol.

ETHNICITIES

People of African American and Hispanic descent are at higher risk for stroke than non-Hispanic Whites and Asians.

This is largely due to an increased prevalence of high blood pressure, diabetes, overweight and obesity, smoking, healthcare inequality, and genetic traits like sickle cell disease (1 in 365 African Americans).