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By Phoebe Wong, For the Daily Republic
In 40 seconds, we can take a walk, scroll through our phones, take a quick munch on a small snack and much more. But 40 seconds is not just any random unit of time. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.
National Stroke Awareness Month is observed annually every May to raise awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of a stroke. Every year in the United States, more than 795,000 Americans have a stroke, making stroke the second most common cause of death worldwide. The leading risk factors for having a stroke in America are high blood pressure or cholesterol; smoking; obesity; and/or diabetes. In fact, Solano County had four times more hospitalizations for stroke than the neighboring counties of Yolo, Napa and Marin in 2021.
Data from the California Department of Public Health indicate that certain racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by stroke. Black/African American persons are nearly two times more likely than White persons to have a stroke. Solano Public Health is committed to addressing these health disparities with a community-based approach. One element of this approach is educating the community about the risks and signs of stroke with culturally appropriate patient materials in multiple languages.
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke, both of which involve poor flow of blood to the brain. An ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood flow in an artery within the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts within the brain, resulting in brain cells dying. If left untreated, a stroke can lead to many health complications such as paralysis, numbness, difficulty thinking, disabilities and even death.
Four of five strokes (80%) are preventable through lifestyle changes and knowing the signs of having a stroke. It is critical to recognize and diagnose a stroke within three hours of when symptoms first appear. Anyone, including children, can have a stroke at any time; however, those more likely to have a stroke include: individuals over the age of 55, women of all ages, people who are Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Native Alaskan, and individuals with unhealthy habits. The FAST acronym is an easy way to remember the common signs of stroke:
F = Face drooping. Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
A = Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech difficulty. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?
T = Time to call 9-1-1. If any of the above symptoms are present, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Life after a stroke may be challenging, and getting emergency care, receiving rehabilitation services to relearn skills, and making lifestyle changes can help reduce the effects of a stroke. It is important to maintain a healthy diet, be physically active and reduce unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking to decrease the risk of having a stroke.
FAST is a quick easy way to recognize and respond to someone experiencing a stroke and it takes less than 40 seconds to use the tool. For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/stroke for steps you can take to prevent a stroke.
Phoebe Wong is a California Pathways into Public Health student intern from Solano Public Health, Emergency Services, Preparedness, Immunization & Communicable Disease (EPIC) Bureau.
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