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Healthy SA | Seniors and recognizing the signs of a stroke

The key to surviving a stroke is knowing the acronym FAST.

SAN ANTONIO — As we near the end of Heart Health Awareness Month, our attention turns to seniors. As people age their risk of heart disease goes up significantly. A lot of it has to do with hypertension, or high blood pressure. If that goes on for too long, it can have disastrous effects on the rest of your health and body.

Dr. Kenneth Adams, the Medicare Texas Chief Medical Officer told us, "Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States among both men and women. So if you have heart disease, you are actually at an increased risk of a stroke also." 

So what are the signs of a stroke? You need to remember the word FAST. The F stands for face. Dr. Adams added, "Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?" 

The second letter, A, is for arm. "Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward," said Dr. Adams.

S is for speech, which is a big sign too. Dr Adams said, "Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange?" 

Last but certainly not least is T, for time, because acting quickly if you or a loved one is having a stroke could mean life or death. Dr. Adams added, "Genetic factors can play a role in high blood pressure, stroke and other related conditions. Several genetic disorders can cause strokes, including sickle cell disease."  

Some of the other risk factors of a stroke include lifestyle which includes your diet and exercise, age, high cholesterol, smoking, and family history.  "47% of all Americans have at least one of these three key risk factors. Another common risk factor is diabetes and obesity, which affects close to two thirds of all Americans," said Dr. Adams.

And for seniors who live alone, they might not even be able to recognize they're having a stroke. Dr. Adams said, "They may not speak to anybody that day or speak on the phone, so they might not even realize their own speech is slurred."   

Knowing that acronym of FAST is not only important for you, but for those around you. 

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