Stroke is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and one of the leading causes of disability in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by 2025, more than 795,000 people will have a stroke each year, with one stroke occurring approximately every 40 seconds in the United States and one death every 4 minutes.Given the severity and severity of a stroke, it is critical to recognize the early signs of a stroke so that you are fully prepared to provide the necessary help if someone is having a stroke.
（Data Source： https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/pdfs/mm6618a5.pdf）
1. Why is stroke so serious?
• High morbidity and mortality: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, with 795,000 new or recurrent cases each year, equivalent to one person getting sick every 40 seconds and one person dying every 4 minutes.
• Disability burden: As the leading cause of preventable disability in the United States, survivors often have functional impairments such as language disorders and hemiplegia, and female patients have a worse ability to resume daily life.
2. The “murderer” that causes stroke
- Hypertension: accounts for 75% of stroke patients and is the main cause of premature stroke in African Americans. Controlling blood pressure can reduce 40% of stroke-related deaths.
- Metabolic abnormalities: Diabetes and high cholesterol increase the risk of stroke by 2-4 times, while smokers have a 4.5-fold increase in mortality.
- Behavioral factors: Obesity, excessive drinking, lack of exercise, and sleep apnea require intervention through lifestyle adjustments.
- Age: (risk doubles every decade after age 55), gender (women have a higher lifetime risk), genetics, and previous history of stroke/TIA.
3. How to quickly determine whether a stroke has occurred
The most common method of early symptoms uses the internationally accepted F.A.S.T. assessment method, which is recognized by doctors around the world and recommended by the American Heart Association as a guide to understanding the early symptoms of stroke.
F (Facial Drooping): unilateral facial drooping or numbness, asymmetrical smile;
A (Arm Weakness): unilateral arm weakness or inability to lift;
S (Speech Difficulty): slurred speech or inability to understand others;
T (Time to Call 911): Immediately record the time of symptom onset and call emergency services.
Extended symptoms (BE FAST rule) include sudden loss of balance, monocular vision impairment, and severe headache.
Or if you suddenly notice numbness or weakness in your face, arms or legs, especially on the outside of your body, or if you find they have trouble speaking and understanding what you say, this could be a sign of a stroke. If you suddenly have vision problems in one or both eyes, or feel dizzy or have trouble walking, this could also be a sign of a stroke.
4. How to prevent stroke
Mediterranean diet: mainly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, poultry and seafood, limiting red meat, processed foods and sugary drinks.
The role of whole grains: A 12-year study in the United States showed that whole grain intake can reduce the risk of stroke by 15%, because it is rich in dietary fiber and helps control cholesterol and blood sugar.
Regular exercise:
Minimum standard: at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking) or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise (such as running) per week, and 10 minutes of walking every day can significantly reduce the risk.
Sedentary intervention: Get up and move for a few minutes every hour to avoid sitting for a long time and causing blood clots.
Risk factor management:
Control high blood pressure: Keep blood pressure ≤120/80 mmHg, through low-salt diet, exercise and drug intervention.
Control blood sugar and obesity: Patients with diabetes and obesity need to monitor blood sugar, and use new drugs (such as Ozempic, Wegovy) to assist weight loss when necessary, but they need to cooperate with diet and exercise.
Lower cholesterol: Reduce saturated fat intake and take statins.
Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption:
The risk of stroke for smokers is three times that of non-smokers. Quitting smoking can significantly improve cardiovascular health. Alcohol intake should be moderate (≤1 drink/day for women and ≤2 drinks/day for men).
