PNH stresses Importance of Knowing Signs of Stroke

From Piedmont Newnan Hospital

On average, someone in the United States dies from a stroke every 3 minutes and 11 seconds, according to the American Heart Association. All told, strokes are responsible for one in every 20 deaths.

Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Because up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable, Piedmont Newnan reminds the community that prevention and quick action saves lives. Many of the most common stroke risk factors are within our control.

“Keeping a check on the risk factors we can control is key,” said Tiffany Wolfe, director of emergency services at Piedmont Newnan. “Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking are four major contributors to stroke risk, but they’re also things we can do something about. Small lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and knowing your numbers (Blood Pressure, Lipid Panel, A1C) and regular checkups can all have a big impact.”

Additionally, knowing the signs of a stroke and taking immediate action can often lead to better recovery outcomes. In general, rapid recognition and response are key to decreasing the chances of long-term disability.

To help identify signs of a stroke, use the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.:

• Balance – Is there trouble with balance or coordination?
• Eyes – Has the person experienced blurred, double, or loss of vision?
• Face – Look for an uneven smile.
• Arm – Check if one arm or leg is weak or just “doesn’t feel right.”
• Speech – Listen for slurred speech or trouble finding words.
• Time – Call 911 right away if you have any of the above symptoms

Piedmont Newnan Hospital has been repeatedly recognized with the Get With The Guidelines Gold Plus Quality Achievement and Honor Roll Elite+, Target: Stroke awards by the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for quality stroke and cardiac care. While Piedmont Newnan can provide excellent care for patients suffering from a stroke or heart attack, the biggest factor in creating positive outcomes is for a person to act quickly at the first signs of symptoms.

Wolfe said every minute matters when it comes to seeking medical care. Two million brains cells die every minute during a stroke, so time is brain tissue.

“Once your symptoms start, the clock starts running. The faster you receive care, the better your chance of recovery. The biggest mistake we see is that people think their symptoms will just go away on their own and in doing that, they end up outside of the treatment window. So, if you have symptoms, don’t hesitate. Call 911 immediately!”

Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician to learn how to prevent a stroke or visit
piedmont.org/stroke for more information.