The number of age-adjusted deaths in Collier County due to stroke has been on the rise since 2013, but there are key steps you can take to both help prevent a stroke and recognize symptoms to ensure care is provided quickly.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month, raising the profile of just how critical it is to identify stroke symptoms and seek care if stroke is suspected.
Stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain either ruptures or is blocked by a clot. The brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of brain cells within minutes. This can cause temporary or permanent brain damage, disability, and even death.
However, the risk of stroke can be significantly reduced by adopting a healthy lifestyle and controlling risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. The following lifestyle habits can help prevent strokes.
Don’t smoke: If you smoke, stop, and also avoid secondhand smoke. The risk of having a stroke increases 12% for every five cigarettes smoked each day. For African-American adults, smoking cigarettes more than doubles the risk of stroke compared to never smoking.
Eat well: Prioritize eating high quality food like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts while limiting foods with high cholesterol, saturated fats and trans fats.
Exercise: The American Heart Association found those who are more active have a 25 – 30% lower risk of stroke. Exercising can be as simple as walking, gardening or riding a bike.
Reduce alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can increase blood pressure levels and triglycerides, a form of fat in the blood that can harden arteries. For women, limit alcohol to one serving per day, and two servings per day for men.
These healthy habits may also reduce the long-term effects of stroke; pending how quickly care is received. Use BE FAST to remember stroke symptoms, and call 911 if someone is displaying the following.
● BALANCE: Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
● EYES: Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
● FACE: Is one or both sides of the person’s face drooping or numb?
● ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward? Is there weakness or numbness on one side?
● SPEECH: Does the person have slurred or garbled speech?
● TIME: If the person experiences the sudden onset of any of these symptoms, call 911 for immediate medical attention. Getting the person to the hospital as quickly and as safely as possible is crucial for treatment to possibly stop the stroke in progress and reduce long-term effects.
Physicians Regional Healthcare System has two emergency departments, both with the ability to care for patients with stroke symptoms. Physicians Regional – Pine Ridge is a Comprehensive Stroke Center and delivers the highest quality of care to the most complex cases, offering evidence-based treatments. Pine Ridge also earned the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to guaranteeing stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
Physicians Regional – Collier Blvd is designated as a Primary Stroke Center, highlighting the ability to stabilize and treat most emergent stroke patients.
For more information on the stroke program, please visit https://www.physiciansregional.com/stroke-care.