Stroke Awareness Month: Quick response key to treatment, says Bend-based group bringing Randy Travis to town
By Eric Tegethoff, Oregon News Service
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- May is Stroke Awareness Month, and health experts stress that time is of the essence when responding to the medical condition.
The acronym "BE FAST" can help people identify a stroke. "B" stands for balance, and watching if someone is losing their balance. "E" stands for eyes and changes to vision. "F" is for face and signs of it drooping. "A" is for arms; it is a stroke sign if one arm is dropping when raised. "S" is for speech, which may be slurred. And "T" stands for time to call 911 if any of the signs are present.
Carol Stiles of Bend, executive director of the group Stroke Awareness Oregon, emphasized getting the patient into the care of medical professionals as quickly as possible.
"We recommend calling 911, because the medics can come and begin immediately assessing the situation and having the ER prepare to receive the person," Stiles explained.
Stiles noted acting quickly is important because of clot-busting treatments capable of preventing more widespread damage if provided at the hospital within the first four and a half hours. Stroke was the fifth-leading cause of death in Oregon in 2021, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stiles acknowledged strokes are most common in older people, but there has been an alarming increase among people ages 18-45. High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke, followed by atrial fibrillation. Stiles listed other risk factors.
"Sleep apnea, obesity, untreated diabetes, lack of exercise or a sedentary lifestyle," Stiles outlined. "All of those factors will contribute to stroke, as they also do, by the way, to heart issues."
Stiles pointed out her organization provides peer-led recovery support for stroke survivors, their families and caregivers.
On Monday, May 13, Stroke Awareness Oregon is hosting country singer Randy Travis and his wife Mary for a fireside chat in Bend. Travis suffered a stroke in 2013 -- but with his approval, has just released an AI-assisted song, which you can now hear on YouTube.
