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Know the Signs of a Stroke

Know the Signs of a Stroke

When a Stroke Strikes, Minutes Matter

Our Primary Stroke Centers

Stroke is a Leading Cause of Death and Disability – But It Doesn’t Have to Be

Every 40 seconds, someone, somewhere in the United States, suffers a stroke.

That’s the same amount of time it takes to reply to an email, reheat a cup of coffee or post a selfie.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death but is the third leading cause in Hawaiʻi.

Stroke also is the leading cause of adult disability in the U.S., with nearly 800,000 people suffering a new or recurrent stroke each year.

When It Comes to Stroke, It’s Important to BE FAST

Recognizing the symptoms and getting help quickly can make a difference in treatment and recovery.

It’s easy to remember the signs to look for with BE FAST.

Infographic explaining the BE FAST acronym for recognizing stroke symptoms.

B = Balance Loss

Is there a sudden loss of balance or difficulty with coordination?

E = Eyesight Changes

Is there a sudden change in vision, such as blurred or double vision? Or, is there a loss of vision in one or both eyes?

F = Face Drooping 

Does one side of the face droop? Is one side of the face numb? Ask the person to smile to test for drooping or loss of feeling.

A = Arm Weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Weakness is typically on one side of the body and may involve the leg as well.

S = Speech Difficulty

Does the person slur when they speak? Do they have difficulty forming or understanding words? Ask the person to say a simple sentence, such as “My name is ____” or “I live in Hawaiʻi.” Do they repeat the sentence correctly?

T = Time to Call 911 

If the person shows any of these signs, it's time to call 911.

During a stroke, every second counts. Call 911 immediately, even if the symptoms go away. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared. Early treatment leads to higher survival rates and lower disability rates.

Learn More About Stroke Michelle Sato on Hawaii News Now Sunrise

Michelle Sato, a nurse practitioner on Hawaiʻi Pacific Health’s neurology team, visits Hawaiʻi News Now to explain the different types of strokes that can occur; how to BE FAST when stoke strikes; and how lifestyle changes impact stroke risk.

View transcript
[Music]
7 seconds
Stroke is the third leading cause of death here in Hawaiʻi and fifth across the nation. Michelle Sato is a nurse practitioner and the chief of advanced
15 seconds
practice providers for Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Group. She's here to talk about stroke awareness month. So let's start very basic, Michelle. What exactly
22 seconds
is a stroke? So there are two main types of stroke. There are es schemic strokes where a clot blocks blood flow to the brain and there's hemorrhagic strokes or
31 seconds
the bleeding type where a weakened blood vessel ruptures and leaks blood into the brain. And I know we typically think about our capuna and we we're concerned
38 seconds
about them but but this could happen young or old. Right. Exactly. Strokes can happen to anyone regardless of age including kids. Women do have a higher
47 seconds
risk of stroke than men. In fact, one in five women will have a stroke. Let's focus on prevention then. What causes a stroke? So there are some risk factors
56 seconds
for stroke that we cannot control like ethnicity and our genetics. But up to 80% of strokes are actually preventable
1 minute, 3 seconds
through things like lifestyle changes and stroke risk factor modification. So the things we can control are blood
1 minute, 11 seconds
pressure which is actually the number one modifiable stroke risk factor, physical activity, obesity, diet,
1 minute, 20 seconds
smoking or nicotine dependence, adequate sleep, and high cholesterol. And my understanding is is reacting quickly can
1 minute, 28 seconds
do wonders as far as recovery. So So how do I know if someone in front of me is having a stroke? Exactly. Recognizing stroke is critical. And an easy way to
1 minute, 36 seconds
remember the signs of stroke is the acronym BAST. So the B in BAST is for balance. Someone having a stroke may suddenly become unsteady on their feet.
1 minute, 47 seconds
E in BAST is for eyes. Someone could lose eyesight in one or both eyes. The F
1 minute, 54 seconds
in BAST is for face. They may have face drooping on one side of their face. The A in BAS is for arm weakness or leg
2 minutes, 2 seconds
weakness on one side of their body. An S in BAS is for speech changes. They may have slurred speech, difficulty getting
2 minutes, 9 seconds
the words out, or difficulty understanding what's being said to them.
2 minutes, 13 seconds
And if any of these symptoms occur, the T in be fast is for time. Stroke is a medical emergency and it's time to call
2 minutes, 22 seconds
911 because every minute that's going by if you're having a stroke, you're losing millions of brain cells and the quicker
2 minutes, 29 seconds
you get treated for stroke, the more likely you are to recover. Yeah. Okay.
2 minutes, 33 seconds
So, before you go, can can can you explain to us what an advanced practice provider is? So, advanced practice providers consist of nurse practitioners, certified nurse andists,
2 minutes, 43 seconds
and physician assistants. Hawaiʻi Pacific Health has nearly 200 advanced practice providers who partner with our
2 minutes, 50 seconds
physicians in our physician-led team based care model. And we believe this partnership is key to providing highquality care to the community. Yeah.
2 minutes, 59 seconds
All right, Michelle, thank you for joining us. We appreciate it. Thank you.
3 minutes, 1 second
And thank you for helping to make this a healthier Hawaiʻi.

Michelle Sato is a nurse practitioner and the Chief of Advanced Practice Providers for Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Medical Group.

It's Estimated 80% of Strokes are Preventable

The most common risk factors for stroke – high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking – can be controlled or prevented with lifestyle changes. Work with your primary care physician on steps to manage your individual needs.