Northwest Health Recognizes World Stroke Day on Oct. 29
10/27/2020
On Oct. 29, Northwest Health along with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Stroke Program recognizes World Stroke Day. Creating stroke awareness for all ages can help save stroke victims from possible disabilities or even save their lives.
According to UAMS, in 2010 Arkansas was No. 1 for acute stroke deaths in the United States. As of 2018, Arkansas now ranks ninth in acute stroke deaths. All Arkansans are encouraged to learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke and to call 911 immediately.
Learning the acronym BEFAST can save a life when stroke signs and symptoms are recognized early:
- B – Balance: Is there a sudden loss of balance?
- E – Eyes: Is there a change in vision in one or both eyes?
- F – Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or look uneven?
- A – Arm Weakness: Does one arm feel weak or drift downward?
- S – Speech Difficulty: Does their speech sound strange or slurred?
- T – Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, don’t waste a precious second – call 911 immediately. The emergency rooms at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, Northwest Medical Center-Bentonville and Siloam Springs Regional Hospital are here for you and your family 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Through the AR SAVES stroke program, these emergency departments use a high-speed video communications system to help provide immediate, life-saving treatments to stroke patients 24 hours a day. The real-time video communication enables a stroke neurologist to evaluate whether emergency room physicians should use a powerful blood-clot dissolving agent within the critical three-hour period following the first signs of stroke.
Stroke risk factors
Risk factors for stroke include:
- High blood pressure
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Atrial fibrillation (AFib)
- SmokingFamily history
It is important to follow up with a primary care physician on a yearly basis, especially if you have any stroke risk factors.
Statistics show Arkansans are at a higher risk of death from stroke than residents of most other states. In 2019, UAMS Stroke Program patients received stroke treatment in less than two hours from the time of their symptom onset.
Where you live should not determine whether you live or whether you die. Fortunately, in Arkansas a stroke patient can get the same level of life-saving care in their hometown hospital as in a large metropolitan hospital thanks to the IDHI Stroke Program and 54 hospitals throughout the state.
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