For a Stroke, Remember BE FAST
Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. It's estimated that 80% of strokes are preventable. Here to tell us more is Adam Wadina, MD, a neurologist with the Froedtert & MCW health network.
What are the signs someone is having a stroke and what should be done?
Strokes are very sudden, and the signs to remember are can be remembered with the words BE FAST.
- B is for balance.
- E is for eye problems.
- F is for face weakness.
- A is for arm weakness.
- S is for speech problems.
- T is for a terrible headache.
T also stands for time, meaning it's time to call 911 and get to the hospital right away.
What can a person do to reduce their stroke risk?
The stroke risk factors are high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. So, if you have any of these, it's really important to keep these types of things in check. It's also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get your physical activity in, maintain a healthy diet and keep an eye on your weight as well.
Tell us about the treatment options your team offers.
There are two different types of stroke. And so the treatment options depend on which type of stroke you're having, which again is the reason that it's so important to get to the hospital right away so we can figure out what's going on and what we should be doing about it.
Does it make a difference where a person receives care for a stroke?
As an academic health network, we have a Comprehensive Stroke Center at Froedtert Hospital and a Primary Stroke Center at both Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital. This means we are meeting a nationally recognized standard for quality patient care and also puts us at the forefront of research as well as teaching.
