Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability around the world. In the United States, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, affecting people of all ages and races. Rhode Island reports more than 2,700 strokes annually—of those, more than 1,700 are treated at Rhode Island Hospital. Knowing the signs and symptoms, and what to do if you encounter someone having a stroke, can save your life or the life of a loved one.
Strokes can be prevented
Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable. By modifying your risk factors, you can decrease your chances of having a stroke.
Modifiable risk factors of stroke include:
- high blood pressure—this is the number one risk factor
- high cholesterol
- atrial fibrillation
- diabetes
- obesity
- physical inactivity
- sleep apnea
- smoking and tobacco/drug use
- alcohol dependence
Non-modifiable risk factors of stroke include:
- previous history of transient ischemic attack (TIA), stroke, clots, or heart attack
- family history of TIA or stroke
- ethnicity (African American, Native American, Hispanic)
Know the signs and symptoms of stroke
Even if you reduce your risk, it is important to know the symptoms of a stroke for yourself or someone else. Symptoms of a stroke can vary based on what part of the brain is being affected. It’s important to remember the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T. to spot a stroke quickly and get help.
B.E. F.A.S.T. stands for:
- B: Balance — Sudden loss of balance or coordination
- E: Eyes — Sudden vision changes in one or both eyes
- F: Face — Facial drooping or twisting
- A: Arm — Arm weakness or numbness
- S: Speech — Slurred or difficult speech
- T: Time — Call 911 immediately
Don’t underestimate the importance of teaching children as well as adults. We have seen many children call 911 and save their parents or grandparents because they knew how to spot the signs and call for help.
What to do if someone is having a stroke
If you notice someone is having a stroke, it’s important to get them help quickly. Nearly 2 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated due to lack of oxygen. Call 911 immediately at the first sign of a stroke.
If you think you are having a stroke, do not drive yourself to the nearest hospital. Your stroke symptoms can quickly get worse without warning, and you or someone else on the road could be injured. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are highly trained professionals who receive extensive stroke education, especially here in Rhode Island. We have protocols in place that help improve patient outcomes. For patients with stroke symptoms, EMS will transport you to the nearest stroke center for treatment while pre-notifying the stroke teams to be ready for your arrival. Rhode Island has seven Joint Commission accredited Primary Stroke Centers, including The Miriam and Newport hospitals.
Expert care for large strokes
For patients who are suspected of having a very large stroke, known as a large vessel occlusion (LVO), Rhode Island has done something truly remarkable for more than 10 years. Rhode Island was the first state in the nation to have a state protocol that bypasses Primary Stroke Centers and goes directly to the Comprehensive Stroke Center for emergency care of those large vessel occlusions. Rhode Island Hospital is the only hospital in the state designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, performing mechanical thrombectomies for LVOs. In a mechanical thrombectomy, a provider will advance a catheter up to the large clot in the brain and remove it manually. Bypassing to Rhode Island Hospital when LVO is suspected saves precious time, which saves precious brain function.
At Rhode Island Hospital, we work extremely closely with our EMS partners across the state. They call to let us know a stroke patient is coming, so our team can meet them at the ambulance doors. From there, it’s straight to imaging and administering treatment right in the Emergency Department. And our EMS collaboration doesn’t stop there. We provide feedback to our EMS partners about their response and the outcome of the patient so they can learn from each case and see the incredible results of their hard work. We host educational events throughout the year, collaborate on the Rhode Island Stroke Task Force, and include them in research opportunities. EMS are the backbone of stroke care services here in Rhode Island.
Remember: by reducing your risks, knowing the signs, and calling for help as soon as possible, you can save a life. Teach someone you love to BE FAST and call 911 at the first sign of stroke.
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