Featured photo: Dr. Aisha Harris
Written by Dr. Aisha Harris
The brain is a powerhouse.
But if it is bleeding or does not have enough oxygen, that is not good.
There are many causes of brain bleeds or poor oxygen flow to the brain. But a stroke is something that can cause both of these and impacts almost 800,000 people per year.
Stroke is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC. Many people are at risk of a stroke because of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, pregnancy, lupus and other reasons. Uncontrolled medical problems can increase someone’s chance of having a stroke.
The American Heart Association reports that one in three adults have at least one disease that increases the risk of stroke.
A stroke is a medical problem with poor blood flow to the brain due to decreased blood flow (ischemia) or bleeding (hemorrhagic).
Black Americans are twice as likely to have a stroke and have an increased risk of dying from a stroke compared to white Americans.
The signs of a stroke can be different for everyone but there are some common symptoms that people should be aware of. The FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) is a test to quickly identify if someone is having a stroke.
- Face weakness: Can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped?
- Arm weakness: Can the person raise both arms?
- Speech problems: Can the person speak clearly and understand what you say?
It’s time to call 999: if you see any of these signs!
Other signs of a stroke include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden blurred vision or loss of sight, sudden memory loss or confusion, or sudden severe headache.
If you feel like you are someone else is having a stroke, call 911!
Stroke prevention steps include healthy living, not smoking cigarettes, limiting alcohol, being more physically active and controlling medical problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease.
Everyone in the home including children should know common signs of a stroke, or at least signs that someone is not feeling well, so they can get medical help if needed. Family and friends including children can be heroes if a loved one’s eyes for recognizing that something is not OK and, more specifically, that someone could be having a stroke.
Don’t delay care! Time equals tissue, meaning delayed care causes dead tissue and more medical problems.
Contact your doctor today if you have medical problems that increase your chance of a stroke to see if they are controlled, or to get checked out regarding your health status.
Dr. Aisha Harris, MD is a Flint native and board-certified family medicine doctor at Harris Family Health in Flint, Michigan. Harris Family Health is a membership-based clinic that provides personalized and full primary care to adults and children. Learn more about Harris Family Health by visiting www.harrisfamilyhealth.com.
Feel free to submit health questions to Dr Harris at theflintcouriernews@gmail.com.
