The Primary Stroke Center at GBMC

Recognizing a stroke early and immediately calling 911 is critical to a person's outcome. When it comes to stroke, remember to think F.A.S.T. and use the following acronym provided by the American Stroke Association to quickly identify stroke symptoms in yourself or others:

• Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
• Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• Time to call 911: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.

Other stroke symptoms come on suddenly and include confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache.

A stroke can occur if a blood vessel leading to the brain is blocked by a clot (ischemic stroke) or bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). This keeps essential oxygen and nutrients from reaching the affected part of the brain, which it begins to impair function. 

Ischemic Stroke 
Ischemic stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. This may happen in two ways:

• A clot may form in an artery that is already very narrow. This is called a thrombus. If it completely blocks the artery, it is called a thrombotic stroke.
• A clot may break off from another place in the blood vessels of the brain, or some other part of the body, and travel up to the brain to block a smaller artery. This is called an embolism. It causes an embolic stroke.

Hemorrhagic Stroke 
Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in part of the brain becomes weak and bursts open, causing blood to leak into the brain. Some people have defects in the blood vessels of the brain that make this more likely. The flow of blood that occurs after the blood vessel ruptures damages brain cells. 

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) 
A transient ischemic attack or TIA is often referred to as a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke." The term "mini-stroke" is misleading and diminishes the importance of a TIA. While a TIA does not result in permanent damage, it is a warning sign of possible impending stroke. A person experiencing a TIA should seek medical attention. Immediate treatment can significantly reduce risk of stroke in the future.

According to the American Stroke Association, factors such as medical conditions, behaviors and heredity can play a role in stroke risk. Your primary care physician can help you determine your stroke risk and come up with a plan to reduce the number of controllable risk factors, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity. 

The following medical conditions can increase risk:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Sickle cell disease

The following behaviors can increase risk:

• Tobacco use
• Alcohol use
• Physical inactivity

The following hereditary traits can increase risk:

• Family history
• Age and gender – older people and men are at higher risk
• Race and ethnicity – African-American, Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native individuals are at higher risk than non-Hispanic whites or Asians

• National Stroke Association
• American Heart Association
• Brain Attack Coalition
• Strokecenter.org
• National Aphasia Association