(music).
Women run a greater risk of having it than being diagnosed
with breast cancer.
I'm referring to a stroke, and contrary to popular belief,
women in their 40s and younger can have a stroke.
With us today, Dr. Ralph Sacco, whose many accolades include
being the first neurologist to serve as president of the
American Heart Association, and American Stroke Association.
Also joining me this morning, Anne Daley, a working mom who
suffered and overcame a stroke, here to share her incredible
story.
Good morning, Anne.
Good morning, how are you?
Thank you for having us.
Thanks for having us.
Thanks for being here.
Doctor, let me start with you.
Tell us exactly what causes a stroke.
What are the main causes?
Well, stroke is like a heart attack, but in the brain.
Many strokes occur because a blood vessel gets blocked.
Either a blood vessel in the neck, small blood vessel inside
the brain, or a clot from the heart or somewhere else flies up
and blocks an artery in the brain.
The brain gets injured and we develop a stroke.
I know it can happen quickly, so what can what one know in terms
of recognizing that they're having one?
Well, everyone knows what a heart attack is, right?
Chest pain, you know what to do.
Very few people know the warning symptoms and signs of stroke.
And, that's why the American Heart Association and American
Stroke Association, part of this together to end stroke
initiative, with Medtronic, wants everyone to know F.A.S.T.
It's the acronym F-A-S-T.
Face drooping.
If someone's face is drooping, you ask them to smile and the
face is drooping on one side.
A for arm.
If they put out the arm and the arm is weak or drooping.
S for speech.
Having trouble speaking or slurring their speech, and T for
time.
Time is brain.
We've got to act quickly and call 911.
That's great information right there.
FAST.
F-A-S-T.
Now, why are so many women affected by a stroke?
Well, that's a great question.
Right now, more women have a stroke, die from a stroke, or
are disabled from a stroke than men in this country.
Really?
Largely because women survive longer than men, and we know age
is important, but second risk factors like high blood
pressure, diabetes or obesity, heart disease, can actually
increase in women as they age, and third,
there are other factors like migraine, hormones and oral
contraceptives that can actually increase the risk of stroke.
And you've really shocked me here.
And Anne, let me bring you in now, because you suffered a
stroke at what age?
I was 39 years old.
39.
Tell me what happened.
I was at the office alone on a Sunday.
I'm a working mother and it was time to go to the office, and I
was catching up on some work, and all of a sudden I realized
that my left hand wasn't working.
Mmm-hmm.
So, I had the A of the F-A-S-T, and my face felt strange, so I
have the F of the F-A-S-T.
After spending a moment or two googling my symptoms on the
internet, I knew what was happening.
I knew I was having a stroke, so I called 911, got to the
hospital very quickly, got treated.
But what was going through my head at that point was I had
seen my grandmother have a stroke fifteen years earlier
when she was in her 80s and it had taken away her independence.
It had left her completely debilitated, and what was going
through my head was, is that what was going to happen to me?
And you know, thank goodness you even knew to act, because
doctor, you just said it, seconds count here.
That's right.
Anne is so unusual, once she recognized, she called 911, she
got that urgent attention, where she probably wouldn't be sitting
here like she is today.
And how typical is this story?
39 years old.
Stroke can happen at any age.
We all think stroke only occurs in the elderly.
Stroke can happen to anyone at anytime.
And in fact, latest statistics show that we're seeing a decline
in stroke over age 65, but in middle age we're actually seeing
a bit of an increase.
And Ann, do you think your grandmother's story, what
happened to her, did that help you with your recovery and what
you had to do?
It definitely inspired me to work very hard when I was in
rehabilitation.
My biggest goal was to be able to run and get back to running
after I had my stroke.
And you said something interesting before the show
started.
She is a - Anne is a stroke victor.
Tell me what that means.
So that means someone that really thrives.
Someone that has done great.
We want more people like Ann to come out and actually be
spokespersons for stroke.
Ann did so well because she recognized the symptoms, she
called 911, and she got to a stroke center and she got stroke
lifesaving therapies.
And let's be honest, had she not acted?
She wouldn't be like this today.
And that's the key to recovery.
F.A.S.T.
is what we want everyone to know.
We want people to know those warning symptoms and get that
urgent attention.
Any closing thoughts?
I think just the main thing is for people to know that time is
of the essence.
Don't be embarrassed if you think that you're having a
stroke, but you're not sure.
Get to the hospital.
Get the treatment as soon as possible.
Doctor I know there is a free app.
I'd like you to tell our viewers in terms of what this means.
StrokeAssociation.org and get Spot a Stroke FAST.
And get that FAST app, and then you too will beat a stroke like
Ann.
And we have a few more seconds, I want to say it one more time.
FAST.
F for Face, A for Arm, S for Speech, T for time.
Call 911.
Every second counts.
Thank you for your time today, doctor.
God bless you, Ann!
Good luck to you and thank you for helping me understand this
even more.
Thank you.
Thank you both.
If you'd like more information on this topic, you can also
visit our website, TheBalancingAct.com, or get
social.
Log on to Facebook.com/TheBalancingActFans
I'm never going to forget that FAST.
(music)