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When a stroke strikes, minutes matter. That’s why Dr. Raymond Catton, an interventional neurologist at Saint Francis Hospital joined us recently to help emphasize the urgency of quick action.
“Time is brain,” Catton said. “Every second counts. We want to get people to the hospital as quickly as possible.”
Catton walked through the BE FAST checklist that stroke teams teach widely. B is for Balance problems, such as sudden dizziness or difficulty standing or sitting upright. E is for Eyes, including vision loss in one or both eyes, double vision, or trouble seeing one side of your surroundings. The FAST portion covers the classic signs: Face drooping; Arm or leg weakness or numbness on one side; Speech changes like slurring or trouble getting words out; and T for Time to call 911.
If something feels off, he urged people not to wait it out or search the internet.
“If there’s any concern or any thought that there could be stroke-like symptoms, just come to the hospital. Just always, always come to the hospital,” Catton said. Quick evaluation can open the door to time-sensitive medications and procedures that treat stroke in the moment.
Some risk factors can’t be controlled, such as age, hereditary conditions and sex differences. At the same time, many risks are modifiable. Managing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes can reduce the chance of stroke. Lifestyle also plays a powerful role.
“Any type of increase in the heart rate for sustained period of time is going to help,” Catton said.
For eating patterns, Caton says a Mediterranean-style approach centered on vegetables and fruit, lean proteins including fish, and olive oil.
Know the signs, use BE FAST and call 911 at the first hint of stroke. Learn more about stroke warning signs, prevention and care at trinityhealthofne.org/stroke.
