This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Christine Holmstedt about recognizing the signs of stroke and getting prompt treatment. Dr. Holmstedt is a Professor of Neurology and Director of Clinical Stroke Services at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina, consistently ranks in the top ten states in the US for stroke death. Doctor Dr. Christine Holmstedt is here to talk about stroke symptoms and the importance of getting prompt medical attention when stroke symptoms occur. Doctor Holmstedt is a Professor of Neurology and she's Director of Clinical Stroke Services at MUSC. Doctor Holmstead, from your perspective, why does everyone need to know and remember these signs of stroke?
Dr. Holmstedt: Stroke is a very time sensitive disease. We only have several hours after stroke symptom onset to treat patients, and the earlier we treat patients, the better the outcome. So, it's very, very important that everyone recognizes the signs and symptoms of stroke.
Conner: What are the risk factors for stroke?
Dr. Holmstedt: The most common risk factors for stroke are hypertension, high lipids or high cholesterol levels, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and family history of either stroke or heart disease.
Conner: Is stroke typically something that happens to older adults, primarily?
Dr. Holmstedt: Although it's more common to see strokes in the elderly, stroke can happen to anyone of any age. So, it's very important that everyone in the community looks for these signs and symptoms to help reduce disability and to help patients have the best outcome.
Conner: And tell us the common, typical signs that someone may be having a stroke.
Dr. Holmstedt: So we like the public to remember the acronym BE FAST. The B stands for balance. The E stands for equilibrium. The F stands for facial drooping or face asymmetry. The A stands for (arm), arm weakness. The S stands for speech. So, either slurred speech or difficulty speaking or understanding speech. And the most important letter of fast is T (for) time. It's very important that as soon as someone recognizes someone's having the signs and symptoms of a stroke that they call 911 immediately to get immediate medical attention in the emergency department.
Conner: And is it common that someone having a stroke might have several of these symptoms or just one symptom? What really is typical?
Dr. Holmstedt: That's a great question, Bobbi. So, typically patients exhibit several symptoms of stroke. But what we want the community members to be looking for or recognizing is if someone suddenly has weakness of one side of the body affecting either the face, the arm, the leg, or all the face, arm and leg. Same thing with numbness on one side of the body or just the face, arm and leg. Difficulties with speech pattern. Not being able to find words. Difficulty understanding words. Those patients may also have some weakness as well. So, strokes can come with multiple symptoms. But any symptom of a stroke, it's very important that you call 911 immediately.
Conner: What should you do if you yourself are experiencing one or more of these stroke symptoms and you're home alone?
Dr. Holmstedt: You need to listen to your body. I can't tell you how often we have patients that sort of ignore the symptoms or downplay the symptoms. And they say, well, I knew they were coming on. So, I laid down and thought they would go away. It's very important if you start to feel any sort of those symptoms, to call 911 immediately, even if the symptoms resolve, because that too is an emergency. If your symptoms do resolve, that could be what we call a transient ischemic attack, which is basically a warning sign that a stroke is coming. So again, if you start to feel any of those symptoms immediately call 911.
Conner: Dr. Holmstedt, thanks for talking with us about stroke symptoms.
Dr. Holmstedt: Thank you.
Conner: Bobbi from the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
