American Heart Association and Albany Med Urge People to “BE FAST” to Prevent Stroke

ALBANY — Stroke is the No. 5 killer of all Americans, and the leading cause of disability. The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, and Albany Med Health System, are urging Capital Region residents to take steps to prevent stroke and know the signs of a stroke should it occur. 

“Stroke statistics overall have improved, with stroke going from being the No. 3 killer of all Americans to No. 5,” said Alan Boulos, M.D., Dean of Albany Medical College, Chair of the Department of Neurosurgery at Albany Med, and president of the Capital Region Board of Directors of the American Heart Association. “But we must continue to remind people of ways to prevent stroke, and the signs and symptoms so that people can act quickly if they witness or have a stroke.” 

Preliminary new research presented this week shows that stroke hospitalizations for younger adults – along with the cardiovascular risk factors associated with them – have risen since 2007. But the chances of people under age 45 dying from a stroke in the hospital have dropped.

Traditional stroke risk factors and related medical conditions also rose significantly over the decade. Obesity more than doubled, from 8.6% to 18.5%. The presence of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking and depression also rose, as did related illnesses such as heart failure and irregular heart rhythms. The study did not look at why hospitalizations declined. 

“If a stroke patient gets to the hospital quickly, the advances in treatment mean that the outcome can be much better, “Dr. Boulos said. “Time is brain, which is why it’s so important for people to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and get to the hospital immediately.” 

The acronym “BE FAST” can help people to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke: 

• B: Balance – Issues with balance 
• E – Eyes – Difficulty with vision 
• F – Face Drooping 
• A – Arm Weakness 
• S – Slurred Speech 
• T – Time to Call 911 

“With proper nutrition and lifestyle changes, many strokes can be prevented,” said Dr. Boulos. ”We recommend that people keep their blood pressure under 120/80; that they eat lean protein, fruits and vegetables, quit smoking; and get 150 minutes per week of exercise. That’s about 20 minutes a day, and it’s OK to break that up into even smaller increments.” 

For information about stroke, visit www.stroke.org.