It’s a Brain Attack! Understanding Stroke Each slide has animations added to it. Each click will bring up either new information or an image. Be sure to present the information from the beginning and in the “slide show” setting. Click to move forward with the presentation.

What is a Stroke? A stroke is a brain attack! A stroke happens in the brain not the heart. A stroke happens when blood from the body can no longer reach the brain. Be the hero – save a life by knowing the signs of a stroke. Follow the 3 R’s!

The 3 R’s of Stroke The 3 R’s of stroke are very important if you want to help save a life – Be the hero! Reduce Risk for Stroke Recognize Symptoms of Stroke Respond – Call 9-1-1

Types of Stroke There are two types of strokes Ischemic (say: iss-KEE-mik) – When blood is blocked from entering the brain. Hemorrhagic (say: heh-muh-RAH-jik) – When the vessel that carries blood throughout your brain bursts Detailed images of both types of on the following slide. -when a stroke occurs it kills the brain cells in the effected area -Ischemic stroke is the most common (84%) -Hemorrhagic strokes are less common, but are more deadly -”Brain Attack” is the most descriptive and realistic way of describing a stroke.

Types of Stroke Hemorrhagic Stroke (vessel that bursts) Ischemic Stroke (Blood Clot)

Act FAST! Acting FAST can make an important difference in someone’s life. Act FAST and call 9-1-1 -Treatment is available and is most effective if administered within the first three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. -t-PA in the only FDA-approved stroke treatment available. -For the following slides that explain each letter of the FAST acronym have the class stand up and try and mimic the instructors actions. They can pair up with partners or do it individually.

FAST The “F” in FAST stands for face, or facial droop. Ask the person to smile. Notice if one side of the person’s smile is drooping or crooked. Do your best to demonstrate a smile with one corner of your mouth drooping down.

FAST The “A” in FAST stands for arms. Ask the person to raise both arms out in front of them. Observe if one arm drifts downward. Demonstrate this by holding both of your arms out straight and allowing one of them to drift downward. -Someone who is having a stroke will be unable to have both of their arms raised.

FAST The “S” in FAST stands for speech, or slurred speech. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Is their speech slurred or strange? Difficult to understand? Use a sentence like- “Can you hear the dog barking?” Say it clear, than repeat it using slurred words “Can you hurrr the dog baarrgkinggg”

FAST The “T” in FAST stands for time. Time is of extreme importance. If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately. Every minute that a large ischemic stroke is untreated, the average person loses 1.9 million neurons. Time is important because there are certain lifesaving drugs that only can be administered within a short window once the stroke occurs.

More Stroke Symptoms Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arms or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. Sudden bad headache with no known cause

The Suddens Graphic illustrating the previous side.

Some Post-Stroke Effects Depression Moving parts of Body Seeing Bladder Control Memory Seizures After a stroke, you may have emotional and physical changes. Depending on the part of your brain that was affected, you might have problems with the above listing. Sleeping Being Tired Thinking Pain

How a Stroke Affects You -The left side of the brain controls the right side of the body. You use the left side of your brain to move the right side of your body, figure out math and science problems and understand what you read and hear. You may have trouble doing these things if you have a stroke that damages parts of the left side of your brain. -The right side of the brain controls the left side of the body. You use the right side to move the left side of your body and do creative things like paint a picture, appreciate art or music, recognize the emotion in someone’s voice or find where you plan to go. You may have trouble doing these things if you have a stroke in the right side of your brain.

Fact or Myth? 80% of preventable strokes can be stopped by reducing your personal risk. Fact Stroke can happen to anyone at any time. There is no treatment for stroke. Myth Family history of stroke increases your chance for stroke. If stroke symptoms go away, you don’t have to see a doctor.

Fact or Myth? Stroke recovery only happens for the first few months after a stroke. Myth Stroke happens in the heart. There are nearly 7 million stroke survivors in the U.S. Stroke is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. Fact Stroke is a "brain attack".

Modifiable Risk Factors Lifestyle Risk Factors – are habits or behaviors people choose to engage in. If changed, they can directly affect some medical risk factors by improving them. Medical Risk Factors – Conditions that increase your risk of developing a disease. These risk factors can be controlled by behavior change or medication.

Lifestyle Risk Factors Diet and nutrition Physical activity Tobacco use and smoking Alcohol use

Medical Risk Factors High blood pressure Atrial fibrillation High cholesterol Diabetes Circulation problems Carotid artery disease

Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Risk factors that cannot be changed: Age Gender Race/Ethnicity Family history Previous stroke Transient Ischemic Attack Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD)

Preventing Strokes Talk to your family members about knowing their blood pressure. They should have it checked once a year. High blood pressure = higher risk of stroke. Ask your family members if their heart ever feels like it is racing when they are not exercising. This feeling is referring to the condition knows as Atrial Fibrillation For the “preventing strokes” slides, ask the class if they know people in their lives that have similar traits to the ones being described, and how they would go about talking to them in order to make the appropriate lifestyle change.

Preventing Strokes Do you have family members who smoke? If so, ask them to stop. Ask your family members if they have high cholesterol, if so, they need to control it.

Preventing Strokes Make sure your family members are partaking in physical activity during the week. Even just walking up and down the street counts!

Preventing Strokes Ask about your family’s diet. Make sure they are cooking with foods low in fat and salt. Using lots of fruits and vegetables is great place to start! If you have family members who are diabetic, make sure they are following their doctor’s orders to keep it under control.

To learn more visit stroke.org Who we are National Stroke Association’s mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke by delivering education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. To learn more visit stroke.org