Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. When the brain can’t get the blood and oxygen it needs, it can quickly cause irreparable damage.
Dr. Wazim Mohamed, a stroke neurologist and director for the stroke program at DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital, a comprehensive stroke center, said it’s important everyone understands the risks and signs of a stroke.
Mohamed said a stroke is like a “brain attack” -- when part of the brain suddenly stops working.
“Most strokes happen because a blood clot blocks the blood flow to part of the brain,” he said. “Strokes can also happen if a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding in the brain.”
Stroke risks
A stroke is often caused by many of the same things that cause a heart attack: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, heart disease, obesity and high cholesterol.
Additionally, smoking nearly doubles the risk of stroke, and an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AFib) can also increase the risk.
Mohamed said being proactive in your health is a major way to combat your risks of stroke.
“Stop smoking. See your primary care physician to work on lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol and your weight and to help manage your diabetes,” Mohamed said. “See a cardiologist to control the progression of heart disease.”
According to Mohamed, women are at a higher risk than men.
“In the U.S., one in five women will have a stroke,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, because women generally live longer than men, more women have strokes over their lifetimes.
They also have unique risk factors for stroke that include the possibility of high blood pressure during pregnancy, using certain types of birth control and having higher rates of depression.
Recognizing and responding to stroke symptoms
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke can save someone’s life.
The acronym BE FAST can help you remember stroke symptoms:
B -- Balance is off.
E -- Eyes are blurry.
F -- Face droops.
A -- Arms are weak.
S -- Speech is slurred.
T -- Time to call 911.
If someone is showing any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Because brain cells begin to die within minutes of a stroke, prompt treatment is essential for minimizing brain damage and complications. If they can get to the hospital quickly, it gives them the best chance for recovery.
It’s important if someone is having symptoms that they do not wait it out or hope that it goes away. There are no home remedies. Call 911 immediately.
Benefits of a comprehensive stroke center
There are multiple levels of stroke care and hospital certifications. A comprehensive stroke center is the highest level of stroke care certification, meaning it’s ready 24/7 to handle the most complex cases with advanced treatments.
“Hospitals may transfer severe stroke cases to us for specialized care,” Mohamed said. “We are equipped to treat both clot-related and bleeding strokes with a team of experts ready to respond.”
He added that DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital offers several advanced treatments to help stroke patients.
“For strokes from blood clots, we use medications to dissolve clots, if given early,” he said. “For larger clots, we can remove them directly through the blood vessels. For strokes from bleeding, we have minimally invasive procedures to stop the bleed, and for aneurysms, we seal off the blood vessel to prevent further bleeding.”
Mohamed said Detroit Receiving also has a specialized neuro-ICU for around-the-clock care in complex stroke cases.
To learn more about risk factors for stroke and the symptoms to watch for, take a free online assessment at DMC.org/Stroke.