Stroke Stories

What is Stroke?

A stroke is a brain attack. Blood flow to the brain is interrupted and this may cause permanent damage to the brain. A stroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 immediately. Time is brain! Some clot-dissolving agents that make a big difference can only be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset or up to 4.5 hours for select patients.

Stroke Facts

Here are some facts about stroke:

• In the U.S., a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
• Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
• Every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies of a stroke.
• Every year more than 795,000 people in the U.S. will have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.
• Risk for having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for non-Hispanic Black adults as for White adults.

Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Stroke Prevention

You can reduce your risk of stroke through regular check-ups with your doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes:

• Controlling high blood pressure
• Not smoking
• Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats
• Being physically active
• Maintaining a healthy body weight
• Managing diabetes
• Drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all

Medications for Stroke

• Anti-thrombotics like aspirin and Plavix prevent formation of platelet plaques that stick to arteries.
• Cholesterol-reducing drugs like Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor reduce cholesterol plaques that clog the arteries.
• Antihypertensives reduce blood pressure.

How much do you know about strokes? Could you be at risk?

Take the stroke quiz