Stroke Alert! Act FAST.

Do you know that stroke is one of the leading causes of disability and death? Sadly, stroke can happen to anyone, at any time, and anywhere. But stroke doesn't have to happen and, when that happens, getting fast treatment is vital to preventing death and disability from the stroke. On World Stroke Day today, we asked Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) Neurologist, Dr. Brian Lu, to tell you how to spot the symptoms of a stroke and what to do when that happens.

Why does stroke matter?

Stroke is a leading cause of death in China and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. It is also a major cause of serious disability for adults. China bears the biggest stroke burden in the world. Although stroke risk increases with age, it can happen to anyone at any time, but we should all know that stroke is preventable and treatable.

What is a stroke? 

A stroke happens when a part of your brain loses its blood supply and runs out of oxygen, resulting in brain tissue damage. It occurs if a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked and blood can't pass through it (known as ischemic stroke), or if a blood vessel bursts and causes the brain to swell, causing damage to the brain tissue (known as hemorrhagic stroke). 

Who is at risk of having a stroke? 

Strokes are most common in people who have hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes, or a family history of stroke. Other risk factors include an unhealthy diet, inactive lifestyle, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking. 

How do I spot if someone is having a stroke? 

Strokes can sometimes be hard to spot. However, the quicker you can get to a hospital, the better your prognosis is. That's why it's a good idea to be familiar with the signs of a stroke, so you can take quick action if you or your loved ones start to show symptoms.

Dr. Lu advises to go to the hospital immediately if you start to feel a sudden onset of the following symptoms:

1) Numbness of the limbs;

2) Paralysis;

3) Dizziness;

4) Headache;

5) Double vision;

6) Difficulty swallowing;

7) Ataxia (difficulty walking or standing); or

8) Slurred speech accompanied by dizziness.

Dr. Lu stresses that if any of these symptoms come on very suddenly, this could be a sign of stroke. If you can get yourself to a hospital within an hour, your treatment options will be better. 

If all of the above is too hard to remember, try to keep in mind the acronym FAST:

Face: Does your face droop on one side if you smile?

Arms: Can you keep both arms lifted without one arm drooping down?

Speech: Can you repeat a sentence without slurring or having trouble getting the words out?

Time: If you have these symptoms, time is of the essence. Get to a hospital right away. 

Should I call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital? 

Time matters, so go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. You can either call an ambulance or go to the nearest hospital without delay. In Beijing, there is a network of stroke centers that are qualified to treat patients with stroke, and the BJU Stroke Center is one of them in the Chaoyang District. 

What you need to know about a "Stroke Alert": 

At BJU, when someone is expected to arrive at the Emergency Department with a stroke, a Stroke Alert is activated. This alert system signals doctors and the supporting medical staff, including Neurosurgeons, Neurologists, Emergency doctors, ICU physicians, laboratory technicians, and Radiologists to be on standby even before a patient arrives at the hospital in case of the urgent need of any clinical specialty. Essentially, it allows the appropriate stroke team members to promptly respond to the patient's needs in an emergency. 

On World Stroke Day today, the BJU Stroke Center is offering free consultations to anyone who wants to know if they are at risk of having a stroke, treatment options for strokes, and how to care for someone with a stroke. Drop by if you're around the area. 

References:

[1]. Kochanek KD, Xu JQ, Murphy SL, Arias E. Mortality in the United States, 2013. NCHS Data Brief, No. 178. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; 2014.

[2]. Mozzafarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, Arnett DK, Blaha MJ, Cushman M, et al., on behalf of the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2016 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2016;133(4):e38–360.

[3]. Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network. Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) Results. 2018. http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool.

[4]. www.cdc.gov/stroke

[5]. www.worldstrokecampaign.org

Dr. Brian Lu is a Neurologist at BJU. He has over 20 years of clinical experience and is board-certified by the neurological branch of the Chinese Medical Association. He speaks Mandarin and English.To make an appointment with Dr. Lu, please call the BJU Service Center at 4008-919191.