Basic facts about strokes -- they might save a life

May is Stroke Awareness Month. And here's a quick rundown on basic stroke facts, including signs and symptoms. Here's some of what you need to know about strokes:

During a stroke, nearly 120 million brain cells die every hour. Compared with the normal rate of brain aging, the brain ages 3.6 years each hour during a stroke. The sooner a patient receives care, the better the chances of recovery.

About 66 percent of strokes are spotted by a bystander, but less than half of Americans know the common warning signs and symptoms of stroke, which can be remembered using the acronym FAST -- (F) face drooping, (A) arm weakness, (S) speech difficulty, (T) time to call 911.

Other stroke symptoms include sudden numbness, sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, sudden severe headache with no known cause and sudden trouble walking.

The fastest way for stroke patients to receive treatment is by calling 911. Driving to the hospital is a common mistake people make, and it can result in longer wait times before the patient receives care.

May is Stroke Awareness Month: How aware are you?

May is Stroke Awareness Month. It's important to be aware of stroke signs, what to do and how to prevent strokes - and not only in a single month.

Why? A stroke can strike anyone. Strokes do not respect age, social status or wealth. My own stroke happened in May 1998. Outwardly, I was healthy - a longtime distance runner - and under 40.

I received a chart showing basic information about strokes, signs and prevention from Crouse Hospital of Syracuse, N.Y., and wanted to share its good information for this month. It's not an ad as far as I'm concerned, but rather information for you to retain and share.

Click on the chart and check it out.

Alexa - tell me how to save a life

Alexa has moved into our home.

That is, a couple of Amazon Echo Dots occupy the place where I live. So far, I've told Alexa (the name of the voice) to tell me jokes, give me news and weather information, play radio stations, play music and more.

Very handy devices, all voice-controlled.

And now, Alexa can tell you the steps for CPR and warning signs of heart attack and stroke:

Alexa, the friendly voice of the Amazon Echo, will for the first time offer CPR instructions and describe the warning signs of heart attack and stroke.

More worrisome numbers about strokes striking the young

You've read about this concern here before: People designated as "older" Americans are seeing better numbers in stroke rates, while younger people are seeing a rise.

Now, we get some more solid statistics comparing the "Golden Generation" vs. "Generation X" with a finding of strokes decline in older Americans, rise in young:

"People born during what I call the 'Golden Generation,' 1945 to 1954, had lower rates of stroke than those born 20 years before them and also in the 20 years after them," said lead researcher Joel Swerdel. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the Rutgers University School of Public Health in New Jersey.

Cartoonist shares his personal stroke story

Chance are, you have a stroke story, or you know someone who has a stroke story. Every year, thousands of new stroke stories are generated.

The second part of today's news is that the cartoon "Nancy" is still published. I subscribe to two newspapers (yes, actual paper newspapers) and neither publishes "Nancy," which I remember from my youth.

So I almost missed the story of the current "Nancy" cartoonist, who uses his personal story to highlight stroke awareness:

[Guy] Gilchrist credits the minor event in his youth for motivating him to give up his unhealthy, stress-filled “rock-n-roll lifestyle” and go all-in on his craft. A second medical event – perhaps another minor stroke – in his 40s served as a powerful reminder, snapping him back into a healthy lifestyle that he now maintains at age 59.

Stroke prevention: Not glamorous, but more effective than all the high-tech tools we have

This week's postings are devoted to stroke prevention. It's not glamorous or exciting. Very little cutting-edge research using whiz-bang technology.

Instead, it's about high blood pressure, diet, smoking, diabetes and the like.

But controlling those factors could prevent more strokes, keep fewer people disabled and prevent more strokes than any high-tech solution - at least during my lifetime.

So, pass along a recent CDC write-up about American Stroke Month and National High Blood Pressure Education Month:

Stroke is largely preventable. You may be able to prevent stroke or reduce your risk through healthy lifestyle changes. High blood pressure is one of the major risk factors for stroke. Others include high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet.

Prevent a stroke, and you might just save a life; read and learn more

Prevent a stroke, perhaps save a life.

I don't dwell on this month as stroke awareness month. I firmly believe that stroke awareness should not be limited to a single month, but every day, every hour. But in May, you find a lot of articles published about stroke patients, treatment, signs and prevention.

And prevention is key. With that in mind, this recent article has some very good, reasonable advice on how to prevent a stroke in middle age:

The number of people in their 40s and 50s having strokes has rocketed, with obesity and sedentary lifestyles blamed for the rise. New NHS figures show that since 2000, the number of men aged 40 to 54 in England hospitalised after stroke has grown by 46%, and among women, 30%. And for working-age sufferers, stroke can have a crippling financial impact. According to the Stroke Association, lost income due to death and disability caused by a stroke has been estimated to cost those affected £1.3bn a year. “Stroke survivors unable to return to work can struggle to cope with a fall in income, increased household bills and a benefits system that does not recognise the full impact of stroke,” says Jon Barrick, the charity’s chief executive.

The more swiftly a stroke is diagnosed and treated, the better a patient’s recovery will be. But how can you reduce the risk of it happening to you in the first place?

Click on the link above and read the entire article - and remember, if you prevent a stroke, you can perhaps save a life. Even our own.

What's important: Stories of survival

Today is World Stroke Day. Now, that doesn't mean a lot to me. Strokes don't keep a calendar, This blog is not part of a non-profit trying to raise profile or raise funding (both of which are needed and important, by the way).

But I did run across a Tampa Bay Times piece about the most important part of stroke awareness - people. Check out the link to read three stories of survival:

"I was having a perfect day and felt completely fine the second before my left side went out," she said.

Bedinghaus is like many Americans who have suffered a stroke and didn't see it coming.

Wednesday is World Stroke Day, and the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association of Tampa Bay use the day as an opportunity to encourage everyone to learn the warning signs of a stroke by using the acronym FAST:

Face drooping; Arm weakness; Slurred speech; and Time to call 911.

'Dangerously uninformed' about stroke

May was Stroke Awareness Month, and despite many efforts and many years, people are still generally unfamiliar with stroke symptoms and what do do about them.

So please, share this information about stroke and what do do about them:

“The public is dangerously uninformed about what stroke is, and what the signs and symptoms of stroke are, as well as the risk factors,” Jim Baranski, C.E.O. of the National Stroke Association, told Reuters Health.

Stroke is a brain attack, occurring when vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain are cut off or greatly reduced.

The National Stroke Association suggests using the word FAST to help recognize the signs of a stroke. F stands for Face: ask the person to smile, and see whether one side of the face droops. A stands for Arms: if both arms are raised, does one drift to the side? S stands for Speech: is it slurred, or strange? And T stands for Time: don’t waste time before calling 911 if someone has started to show any of these signs.

Are stroke treatments perfect? No. Are the techniques to aid recovery guaranteed? Again, no. And we can't lose sight of that and continue efforts on those fronts.

But - when stroke signs are recognized and the person gets help as soon as possible, are the odds of recovery much better? YES. Remember that.

Orange Popsicles and stroke awareness

This summer, when the weather gets hot, I think I'll have an orange Popsicle.

I ran across this quirky story about a stroke survivor whose one of her early phrases in recovering speech was "orange Popsicle."

You can also check out the video below on how a couple sends out a hopeful message to stroke survivors, one Popsicle at a time:

But with her new husband, Jonny, by her side, she began to beat the odds. First, she began moving her pinky finger and eventually began trying to talk again.

“She said, ‘I love you. Orange Popsicle,’” Jonny remembered. “And she kept saying that, ‘Orange Popsicle, orange Popsicle,’ all through rehab, ‘I want an orange Popsicle.’”

Amy’s Popsicle craving was a silver lining in an otherwise very dark time. It was a symbol of her progress and is now one of support.

The couple launched National Orange Popsicle Week a few years ago to raise money and awareness for other young stroke survivors and their families. They want people to know strokes can affect anyone, young and old.

Know and share stroke symptoms - of course!

I haven't emphasized it this year, but May is Stroke Awareness Month in the United States. Personally, I think people should be aware of stroke signs and symptoms year round.

Still, there have been lots of stories published this month telling people it's important to know the signs of stroke:

Dr. Henry Woo and Dr. David Fiorella, co-directors of the Stony Brook University Cerebrovascular and Stroke Center, say the most important thing is to remember the FAST rules about stroke symptoms:

F -- face drooping
A -- arm weakness
S -- speech difficulty
T -- time to call 911

"Speed of treatment is crucial," said Woo, an endovascular neurosurgeon and professor of neurological surgery and radiology at Stony Brook's School of Medicine, in a university news release. "People are seeking treatment faster and, more critically, at the right place -- a health care facility that's been certified as a primary stroke center."

You can read more using the link above. And share this short but important message with others!

Spotting stroke signs quickly

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and I hope you will see this information multiple times - it's very important. But through my trusty Google alerts, I found a nice presentation of  signs of stroke:

"When someone has a stroke, they may show either slight or extremely noticeable physical changes," Dr. Randolph Marshall, chief of the stroke division at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, said in a hospital news release. "The most effective way to prevent the permanent damage associated with stroke is to recognize the signs of an attack and to seek medical attention immediately."

Dizziness and trouble walking, loss of vision in one or both eyes and a severe headache that comes on suddenly for no apparent reason are other signs that someone is having a stroke. Early treatment, however, can prevent or possibly reverse the damage caused by strokes. The experts advised remembering the acronym "FAST" to help people recognize a stroke sooner and reduce any long-term damage:

• F for Face: Does someone's face look uneven?
• A for Arm: Do you notice one arm hanging down?
• S for Speech: Check for slurred speech or other signs of trouble speaking.
• T for Time: Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention.

Please click on the link above and read all of it. Stroke is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and the country's fourth largest cause of death. Taking quick action might make a huge difference.

Stroke awareness - a global issue

May is Stroke Awareness Month, but stroke awareness is a global issue. And as I've blogged many times, it's not just an senior citizen issue. Here's one more example why - Swedish stroke data has good news and bad:

Overall ischemic stroke rates have declined sharply in Sweden over the past 25 years, and one-year mortality rates after a first stroke have been halved across all age groups, according to new longitudinal research. But in a troubling new finding, rates of first stroke, as well as four-year mortality rates after an initial stroke, are on the rise among younger Swedes.

Dr Lena Björck (University of Gothenburg, Sweden) and colleagues presented the new data in a trio of posters here at EuroPrevent 2013. ...

But the rate of deaths over the years has been declining, she noted. "The mortality after stroke is decreasing in all age groups, over a long period—1987 through 2010. And that's a positive thing," she said. And of note, while the numbers are most striking in the older patients, where stroke is more common, the relative risk reduction was actually slightly greater in the youngest group (age 18-44) than in the 45-64- and 65-84-year-old groups."

Frankie Muniz, 26, tweets about his 'mini-stroke'

Stroke awareness, even for the young, is important! Note the recent story about Frankie Muniz, 26, tweeting about his mini-stroke:

"I was in the hospital last Friday. I suffered a 'Mini Stroke,' which was not fun at all. Have to start taking care of my body! Getting old!," the young actor tweeted today.

He did not explain why, and according to TMZ, doctors are still stumped, awaiting test results. TMZ says Muniz was taken to an Arizona emergency room after his friends became alarmed when they noticed he was acting strange, and having trouble speaking and understanding.

Remember those signs, as explained by the National Stroke Association:

F = Face
• Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = Arms
• Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = Speech
• Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T = Time
• If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

‘Hercules’ urges stroke awareness

Today is World Stroke Day, a day to push for awareness of stroke signs and know what to do when you see these signs.

Even ‘Hercules’ star and stroke survivor Kevin Sorbo urges stroke awareness:

On World Stroke Day, Oct. 29, he’s joining forces with the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, to spread the word about something else he’s learned about stroke: In many circumstances, it is beatable.

Kevin Sorbo, star of the television series “Hercules,” was only 38 when he suffered three strokes.  That was how he learned anyone can have a stroke.

"Like my character, Hercules, I thought I was invincible," said Sorbo, author of True Strength: My Journey from Hercules to Mere Mortal and How Nearly Dying Saved My Life. “There are many myths and misconceptions about stroke. As a survivor, I have learned that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable."

Powerful personal story

Not long ago, George D. Wolf, a Penn State-Harrisburg professor emeritus, wrote his experiences for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Penn.

His article, "Stroke: It can happen to you," gives the details of how he didn't call for help until the following day of his stroke - too late. He says it plainly:

Much of my misery could have been avoided if I had known more about strokes. Let’s get the word out.

You should read the whole article. Bottom line: Yes, a stroke can happen to anyone. And yes, know stroke signs and get help immediately even if you have just one. You or someone else might not have all the symptoms.

Exercise - a tool to prevent future strokes

One reason that I keep running - aside from my pure and plain addiction - is to prevent future health problems. That includes, experts consistently say, another stroke.

You don't have to run - even gardening would help - but a recent news article reminds us that exercise is a key to preventing more strokes:

"The effects on already damaged tissue can be that much worse," Dr. Mark Gordon, a physiatry physician, told a crowd of stroke survivors and their family members earlier this month as part of National Stroke Awareness Month activities at St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute.

Within five years of having their first stroke, 25 percent of female stroke victims and 50 percent of male victims will have another, Gordon said.

The articles gives some tips to avoid a second (or more) stroke: Exercise every day. Limit your alcohol intake. Lower your blood pressure. Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor. Read the article for more details on most of these.

A quiz for Stroke Awareness Month

Many - even most - strokes are preventable by reducing the stroke risk factors.

For Stroke Awareness Month, check out this quiz from the American Heart Association:

Test your stroke I.Q. by answering these six questions. By knowing the stroke risk factors and symptoms, you can make a difference in your life or someone else's.

Stroke awareness - a year-round mission

Today marks the beginning of Stroke Awareness Month. As a longtime journalist, I've always been pummeled with press releases, announcements and so on with Such-and-such Awareness Month or Week or Day.

However, this one is personal. So I'll mark this month once again with articles, news and occasional Scripture as part of Stroke Awareness Month. It's not a big-dollar campaign (as many special months are) but my own little effort to bring awareness of stroke signs and symptoms, and stroke prevention.

The U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reports that almost 1 million strokes happen in a given year in the United States. That alone should make stroke awareness as a priority.

So please, if you read this, please humor me. Better yet, help someone else become aware of what to do if a stroke happens. And keep it up. May is Stroke Awareness Month, but strokes pay no attention to the calendar.

Story of a 33-year-old...

Time to devote a few blog postings to a topic that is near to my heart - or better yet, brain: Strokes don't just happen to elderly people.

My age when it happened: 39. There are plenty of stories about people who have had strokes even younger.

Is this intending to scare people? Certainly not. Instead, it's important for people of all ages to be aware of stroke symptoms and know that it is important to get help quickly.


A recent story talks about how strokes can strike the young:

By age 33, Wichitan Bill Ramsey had suffered his second stroke. He hadn't even realized he'd had one at age 28 until he went to a doctor days after suffering the second one. ...

Both times, Ramsey said, it never would have occurred to him that he had suffered a stroke.
When Ramsey's doctor told him he'd suffered a stroke not once but twice, he had a hard time taking it serious.

"I laughed and said, 'I'm only 33.' " he said. "I thought strokes happen in older people."