Experts say to act FAST when dealing with a possible stroke

Published 9:40 pm Sunday, June 6, 2010

Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The quicker a stroke victim can get treatment, the better his chances of surviving. But the early symptoms of a stoke can be subtle.

“It can be slurred speech or walking problems, weakness in the arms and hands, drooping on one side of the face,” said Dr. Ian Hamilton, a vascular surgeon from Dalton. “Frequently stroke victims don’t recognize these symptoms in themselves. It may be a family member or friends who sees the symptoms and calls for help.”

Christina Banks, stroke coordinator at Hamilton Medical Center, says that’s why the hospital is emphasizing the FAST test to help people recognize the symptoms of a stroke and act on them. The acronym stands for Face, Arms, Speech and Time.

The first three steps are simple enough: Look at a person’s face. Does one side droop, especially when he smiles? Watch his arms. Does he have trouble raising his arms or grasping objects? Listen to him. Is his speech slurred?

But the fourth step is the key.

If you see someone with these symptoms, call 911 right away.

“With a heart attack, it can feel like you’ve got a 600-pound gorilla sitting on your chest. But a stroke doesn’t cause any pain,” said Banks.

That means that even when people spot the symptoms of a stoke, they may not think it as bad as it really is. Those people may ask someone to drive them to the emergency room or even call their doctor and schedule an appointment the next day.

Banks said stroke victims need to get an ambulance as quickly as possible. That’s because the emergency medical technicians will be in touch with the hospital on the trip, letting them know they have a possible stroke patient on the way. In turn, the emergency room will have an entire team ready to meet the patient and start treatment.

That’s crucial, says Banks, because every minute that treatment is delayed increases the risks that a stoke can lead to death or permanent impairment.

So what are the risk factors of a stroke?

Hamilton says a family history of stroke, high blood pressure, being overweight, a diet high in salt or fats, diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking and lack of exercise are some of the key factors.

If that list seems similar to the risk factors for a heart attack, that’s because it is.

“When you are talking an ischemic stroke (one caused by a blocked blood vessel) and heart disease, the same underlying condition is simply manifesting in a different organ,” said Hamilton. “A heart attack is atherosclerosis that attacks the coronary arteries. And frequently a stroke is atherosclerosis that attacks the blood vessels to the brain.”

There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic, which is a bleeding blood vessel.

Age is also a risk factor for stroke, but Banks said Hamilton is seeing younger stroke victims.

“We’ve seen 20-year-olds having strokes. We see a lot of people in the 45- to 55-year-old age range. Usually, they don’t even realize they have a medical problem until they have a stroke. They think ‘I just need to lie down and take a nap,’” she said.

Hamilton has a certified stroke program and treats about 30 stroke victims each month.

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Getting medical treatment within three hours of the first symptoms of a stroke can mean the difference between recovery and death or serious disability. Hamilton Medical Center officials say you can help spot possible stroke victims and get them treatment by memorizing the FAST protocols.

• Face: Look at the person’s face. Ask him or her to smile. Does one side droop?

• Arms: Have the person raise both arms. Does one arm drift down?

• Speech: Can the person repeat a simple phrase without slurring?

• Time: If you see even one of these symptoms, call 911 right away.