PHX Reporter

As World Stroke Day approaches on October 29, Abrazo Health is urging the community to increase their awareness of stroke signs, symptoms, and treatments. Stroke is a cardiovascular disease that impacts arteries leading to and within the brain. It occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain becomes blocked or bursts, depriving part of the brain of essential blood and oxygen.

The American Stroke Association highlights stroke as the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of disability worldwide. Dr. Sushant Kale, Medical Director for Stroke and Interventional Neurology at Abrazo West Campus in Goodyear, states: "Stroke affects 800,000 individuals per year in this country. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke and every 3-4 minutes someone dies from stroke. About 25% people die within one year of having a stroke."

Dr. Kale emphasizes the critical nature of timely treatment: “Time is of paramount importance when we are dealing with strokes. Every one minute that a big brain blood vessel continues to have a block, two million neurons die, so patients need to call 911 if they themselves or someone around them is having stroke-like symptoms.”

To aid in recognizing strokes quickly, many hospitals are adopting the acronym BE FAST. This includes balance issues (B) and blurred vision (E for eyes) as key indicators alongside other traditional signs:

- “F” stands for FACE: Ask the person to smile; does one side droop?

- “A” stands for ARMS: Ask them to raise both arms; does one drift downward?

- “S” stands for SPEECH: Is their speech slurred or strange?

- “T” stands for TIME: If any signs are present, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Additionally, noting when symptoms begin can be crucial information for medical professionals treating stroke victims.