May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Check out the BEFASTT acronym to know what to look out for.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke is a medical emergency and happens when brain cells die due to a lack of oxygen to the brain. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of a stroke is critical because immediate treatment can mean the difference between permanent brain damage or disability and making a full recovery. Check out the BEFASTT acronym to know what to look out for.
The most common cause of stroke is a blocked artery preventing blood flow and oxygen to the brain, otherwise known as an ischemic stroke. Another type is a hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when a tear in the wall of an artery allows blood (and oxygen) to leak out and not get to the brain.
The effects of a stroke are different depending on the type of stroke a person suffers, how many brain cells die and where in the brain the stroke occurs. Call 911 right away if you or a loved one experience stroke symptoms. Every second matters.
“The care you receive in the first few moments after a stroke is essential,” says Ashish Masih, M.D., a board-certified neurologist with the INTEGRIS Health James R. Daniel Cerebrovascular and Stroke Center. “Our team is available 24/7 to help stroke patients with a variety of treatment options. We know how much even a second matters when it comes to helping stroke patients and that’s why we are committed to being available to you. Our team is specially trained in the treatment of ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and transient ischemic attacks. Some treatments for stroke, like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), is most effective when given within the first four-and-a-half hours from the onset of symptoms, which shows how critical it is to get treated right away.”
While older adults are at greater risk, stroke can happen to anyone at any age. The good news is that there are steps everyone can take to lower their risk of suffering a stroke. Healthy lifestyle choices make a big difference. For example, high blood pressure is a major contributing factor to stroke, but luckily, this is one thing people can control. Other risk factors for stroke include:
Suffering a stroke can be devastating, both physically and emotionally, but recovery is possible. INTEGRIS Health James R. Daniel Cerebrovascular and Stroke Center doctors are available 24/7 to ensure immediate treatment and response. While INTEGRIS Health Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation specialists are equipped with top-of-the-line tech and therapies to assist patients as they recover and heal. Their goal is to help patients live fully – to recover not only as many physical abilities as possible, but to address emotional, mental and social changes as well.
