Our Daily Show Interview! OSF St. Anthony’s: May is Stroke Awareness Month
ALTON – May is Stroke Awareness Month, and a local nurse has advice on how to identify a stroke and how to care for yourself or your loved one after a stroke occurs.
Brittany Best, BSN, RN, serves as the stroke navigator at OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center. In this role, she works closely with stroke patients and their loved ones to make sure they receive the best care possible and plenty of education. She shared tips on how to prevent a stroke as well as information about what to do if you suspect a stroke.
“A lot of people are surprised to hear that strokes can happen at any age. It can happen to even babies, babies before they’re born, all the way up to the elderly. So it is really important to learn more about that,” Best said. “Education is honestly one of the biggest things we can do to prevent. Up to 80% of strokes actually are preventable, but you often don’t know how to do that.”
A stroke happens when part of the brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. This means a blood vessel is blocked, usually by a clot or by narrowed arteries due to cholesterol or plaque. A stroke can also occur when a vessel ruptures in the brain.
One in four adults will have a stroke in their lifetime. When a stroke occurs, Best said that “millions of brain cells can die every single minute.” Strokes are sometimes referred to as “a heart attack of the brain” — it’s equally serious.
She emphasized the importance of quickly recognizing a stroke and getting emergency care, even if it’s a “mini-stroke” with symptoms that seem to resolve on their own. This can still indicate a larger stroke is coming, and doctors and nurses can work to prevent it if you go to the emergency room with the same urgency as with a traditional stroke.
Best encourages people to remember the acronym “BE FAST.”
B: Balance. If you have a sudden loss of balance or dizziness, this is “very concerning.”
E: Eyes. A sudden loss of vision or blurred vision in one or both eyes can indicate a stroke.
F: Facial drooping. Ask the individual to smile. If their smile is uneven, this is a sign to get to the hospital.
A: Arm weakness. Numbness or weakness in the arms is a concern.
S: Speech difficulties. Slurred speech or difficulty finding the right word might indicate a bigger problem.
T: Time. “If you have any single one of those symptoms, it’s time to call 911 right away and get to the hospital,” Best said.
Stroke risk doubles after age 55, and women are more likely than men to have a stroke. But there are a few ways you can prevent them.
Best encourages people to take medications as prescribed, especially those that help manage cholesterol or blood pressure. She also noted that avoiding stress and going to a primary care doctor are ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, which can mitigate your risk for strokes and other health issues.
Strokes can be disabling or even cause death, or they might have only minor effects on the survivor. Whatever your situation, Best shared that OSF St. Anthony’s offers a stroke support group from 4–5 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. You can call 618-463-6393 for more information about the group and how to join.
“It’s kind of an educational group. We have great conversations. We have a lot of guest speakers come in and touch on fun, educational topics. It’s really good, honestly, just for the connection with others. The conversation is great, and we do invite anybody who may be interested to join us,” she explained. “There are statistics that say joining a support group after a stroke, whether you’re a caregiver or a survivor, can actually really improve your recovery. Connection really has a huge impact.”
For more information about OSF St. Anthony’s Health Center, including their resources for patients and loved ones, visit their official website.
