Eighty percent of strokes are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, leading to 795,000 strokes annually, the CDC reports.
One in six deaths from cardiovascular disease are due to strokes, and it’s the fifth-leading cause of death around the country.
The number of deaths from stroke are often higher in north Florida counties compared to the rest of the state.
“In the past, many large strokes were fatal,” says Dr. Saumil Oza, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Ascension St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville. “Now, with modern techniques and protocols, most people are able to survive strokes.”
Yet surviving a stroke can lead to certain health complications, including memory or speech issues, paralysis or weakness, vision loss, swallowing problems and incontinence.
Uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension as well as untreated sleep apnea all can raise the risk for stroke.
“Obesity, which often leads to these conditions, is also a significant risk factor,” says Dr. Ricardo Hanel, a neurosurgeon and co-medical director of Baptist Stroke & Cerebrovascular Center at Baptist Health in Jacksonville.
Having atrial fibrillation, which is a type of irregular heartbeat, increases the risk of stroke by 500%. That’s why those with afib often will take blood thinners to cut down their stroke risk, Oza says.
Other risk factors for stroke include smoking, alcohol misuse, coronary artery disease and an unhealthy lifestyle.
When making changes to lower stroke risk, one challenge Hanel has observed is quitting smoking or vaping. “Quitting really is an important step in all kinds of stroke prevention,” he says.
Healthier lifestyle changes, such as eating better and exercising, also can be hard. “It takes time and effort to change your behavior in a way that will be permanent,” Oza says.
Steps to Take
- Some things you can do to help prevent a stroke include the following:
- Maintain your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight at healthy levels. Know your numbers.
- Aim for healthy choices, like a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
- Don’t smoke or vape; get help quitting if you do.
- Visit your health provider regularly to manage health conditions or catch any problems early.
Think FAST
The FAST acronym can help you watch out for signs of a stroke. Here’s what FAST stands for:
F: Face
Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A: Arms
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S: Speech
Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time
If you observe any of this behavior, call 9-1-1.
Other stroke signs include numbness, confusion, trouble seeing or walking, or a severe headache.
Source: American Heart Association