05-19-2024 Family Caregiver - Flipbook - Page 14
EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE STROKE SMART
Despite being the third leading cause of death in
Maryland and the No. 1 cause of disability in the
United States, a stroke is not always viewed by
the public as a medical emergency, says Melissa
Caylor, MBA, BSN, RN, CEN, SCRN, RN Stroke
Program Coordinator at Carroll Hospital.
“A stroke is an brain attack, and two million brain
cells die every minute during a stroke. For every
hour of delay in getting treatment, you lose 3.4
years of life,” says Caylor. “Many people call their
primary care physician first or lie down, thinking
their symptoms will go away, but you must call
911 immediately.”
Not only will Emergency Medical Services
personnel be able to place an IV, check blood
pressure, administer an EKG and perform a full
neurological assessment of the person suspected
of experiencing a stroke—these professionals
know which hospitals have a stroke center. Carroll
Hospital has been awarded the 2024 American
Heart Association Get with the Guidelines® Stroke
Gold Plus Award.
To help identify symptoms of a stroke, Caylor
recommends the BE FAST acronym: Balance
(dizziness), Eyes (any change in vision), Face
(check to see if it’s drooping), Arm (weakness or
numbness in the arm or leg), Speech (any difficulty
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speaking), and Time (call 911 immediately after
symptoms appear)
“Time is brain; every second counts in a stroke,”
says Caylor, who adds that 1/3 of those who have
a stroke and don’t seek immediate medical help
spend the rest of their life in a nursing home. “You
may have to undergo occupational, physical and
speech rehabilitation, which can last six months
or even a year.”
Strokes can occur at any age, although your
risk increases after age 65. Family history does
increase your risk of a stroke, but Caylor says
lifestyle changes can reduce your risk.
“Uncontrolled high blood pressure is the No.
1 risk. Other factors include high cholesterol,
smoking, obesity, and alcohol and drug use, but
87% of strokes are preventable through lifestyle
changes such as not smoking, eating right and
exercising often.”
Free resources and training are available to
help individuals “Spot a Stroke,” “Stop a Stroke”
and “Save a Life” on the Maryland Institute for
Emergency Medical Services Systems website at
miemss.org/home/hospitals/stroke-resources.
–Provided by LifeBridge Health
2024 – 2025 Carroll County Bureau of Aging & Disabilities Resource Guide
