TriStar Summit is helping raise awareness of stroke risk factors during Stroke Awareness Month
Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. In honor of Stroke Awareness Month, TriStar Summit Medical Center is helping raise awareness about stroke risk factors and symptoms throughout May.
“The most powerful tool in preventing a stroke is knowing your personal risk of a stroke and steps you can take to prevent it from occurring,” said Jackie Harper, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, stroke coordinator at TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage, Tenn. “Everyone should take the first step in prevention by talking with their healthcare provider about personal risk. Keep in mind this needs to happen during every stage of life — not just with older adults.”
According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), stroke is the number four cause of death, and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States. “Taking personal steps to prevent a stroke and continually assessing your risk factors should be life-long habits,” said Harper. “Individuals must also pay attention to any signs or symptoms of strokes. Acting F.A.S.T. could be the difference between life and death/severe disability.”
- F = FACE
Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? - A = ARMS
Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? - S = SPEECH
Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? - T = TIME
If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.
Stroke is an emergency that requires specialty emergency care quickly. TriStar Summit has recently been re-certified as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission after undergoing an on-site evaluation and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care. The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center Certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program — the nation’s first — in 2003. A list of programs certified by The Joint Commission is available at www.qualitycheck.org.
For more information about TriStar Summit, an advanced primary stroke center, please call TriStar MedLine® at (615) 342-1919 or visit TriStarSummit.com.