Top 10 questions concerning stroke awareness

1. What is Stroke Awareness Month?

May is National Stroke Awareness month. It's an annual event to make people aware of the life-saving steps they can take to help a person experiencing a stroke, but you must BE FAST.

2. How common is stroke?

Each year approximately 795,000 people have a stroke. It claims the lives of 133,000 Americans annually. One out of every 20 deaths in America is caused by a stroke.

3. How can you tell if someone is having a stroke?

Learn the phrase BE FAST to remember stroke symptoms:

* B=Balance?Asuddenlossof balanceor coordination.

* E = Eyes ? Blurred vision, double vision or sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes.

* F=Face?Onesideof thefacesagsordroops. There may be difficulty smiling.

* A = Arms ? Difficulty raising both arms. One arm may drift downward.

* S = Speech ? May be slurred or strange-sounding. The victim may struggle to repeat a single sentence.

* T=Terribleheadache?Thesuddenonsetof a terrible headache or "the worst headache of your life."

Stroke causes sudden onset of the symptoms above, and may also cause other symptoms, such as trouble walking and numbness on one side of the body.

If you notice any of these signs, quickly call 911. Get the victim to the nearest hospital immediately. If you know the location of a nearby primary stroke center, that's an ideal place to go.

4. What if you don't live near a primary stroke center?

If you live in a community without around-the-clock access to stroke care providers, immediate care may be provided using technology called Telestroke.

5. What exactly is Telestroke?

Telestroke uses state-of-the-art telemedicine technology ? special cameras and microphones ? to facilitate communication between two locations. Telestroke allows stroke experts such as neurologists at one hospital to examine patients at another hospital miles away. The stroke expert works with local health care professionals to diagnose conditions and develop care plans.

For example, the stroke experts at Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay collaborate with providers in Oshkosh, Manitowoc and Marinette to provide expert stroke care for stroke patients in Aurora hospitals in those communities.

6. How does Telestroke help stroke patients?

With Telestroke, patients can have a consultation with a qualified stroke specialist anytime, day or night. The Telestroke program can:

* Connect patients with treatment recommendations from a team of experts

* Lower health care costs

* Provide 24/7/365 bedside access to stroke experts at more facilities

* Allow treatments such as clot-busting drugs to be administered sooner

* Reduce the risk for stroke-related disability

* Reduce the need for patients to transfer to another facility

* Allow ongoing professional treatment at the patient's local hospital

7. Does the American Heart Association endorse Telestroke technology?

The American Heart Association recommends using telemedicine within stroke care protocols.

8. Who is at greatest risk for stroke?

Age matters. The likelihood of having a stroke nearly doubles every 10 years after age 55. Although stroke is more common among the elderly, many people under 65 also suffer from a stroke. Even babies and children can sometimes have a stroke.

9. How can a person reduce their stroke risk? The American Stroke Association recommends

regular checkups and treatment for various health conditions, if you have them. Having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity or diabetes can all increase your stroke risk. Smoking also increases stroke risk, as does atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm. Ask your doctor about your own risk for stroke and the steps you can take to minimize them.

10. If someone shows signs of stroke, what should I do first?

Getting the person professional medical care quickly is vital. The person with stroke symptoms or a witness should call 911 immediately. Calling 911 usually results in faster treatment than driving someone to the emergency department. If any of the symptoms described above strike suddenly, please BE FAST. Don't wait.

Dr. Rose Dotson is a neurology specialist at the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton, located at 975 Port Washington Rd. Her office can be reached at 262-329-8600.