Guest Column: Take preventative actions to avoid a stroke

In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month in May, Northern Arizona Healthcare is educating the community about stroke symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures. A stroke is a "brain attack," cutting off vital blood and oxygen to the brain cells that control everything we do - from speaking, to walking, to breathing. Every year, stroke strikes approximately 800,000 Americans, and is the fourth overall leading cause of death.

The good news, however, is that many strokes can be prevented, and recent research suggests that stroke may have fallen to the fifth overall leading cause of death - most likely due to stroke prevention efforts nationwide.

Stroke is an emergency

For every minute that brain cells are deprived of oxygen during stroke, the likelihood of brain damage increases. If you have any of the following sudden symptoms, call 911 and seek immediate medical attention:

• Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg - especially on one side of the body.

•Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

• Trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

• Severe headache with no known cause.

Act F.A.S.T.

According to the National Stroke Association, a person experiencing a stroke can be treated if bystanders act F.A.S.T:

F - Face: Look for an uneven smile.

A - Arm: Check if one arm is weak.

S - Speech: Listen for slurred speech.

T - Time: Call 911 right away.

Are You At Risk?

Everyone has some stroke risk. A few stroke risk factors are beyond your control, such as being over the age of 55, being male, being African-American, having diabetes and/or a family history of stroke.

If you have one of these risk factors, it is even more important that you learn about lifestyle and medical changes you can make to help prevent stroke.

Here are a few important prevention guidelines from the National Stroke Association:

• Know your blood pressure. If it is elevated, work with your physician to help keep it under control.

• Find out if you have atrial fibrillation. If you do, work with your physician to manage it.

• If you smoke, stop. Smoking doubles your risk of stroke.

• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.

• Know your cholesterol number. If it is high, work with your physician to control it.

• If you are diabetic, follow your physician's recommendations carefully to control your diabetes.

• Include exercise in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine.

• Enjoy a lower-salt, lower-fat diet.

Ask your physician if you have circulation problems. If so, work with your physician to control them.

Christine Maher, R.N., B.S.N., B.A., is the STEMI/Stroke Program Coordinator at Flagstaff Medical Center.