Stroke Awareness Month is a good time to talk
about BEFAST, RÁPIDO, and when to call 911.
COLUMBIA, Md., May 1, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- A survey conducted by MedStar Health found people
could be overly confident about their ability to recognize the
serious warning signs of someone having a stroke. The national
survey of 1000 people found 64% of respondents said they were
"confident" about their knowledge of stroke symptoms, but just 23%
could name the signs that make up the widely known
acronym BEFAST which outlines sudden changes that can be signs
of stroke:
- Balance
- Eyes
- Face
- Arms
- Speech
- Time
"We want people to be familiar with the BEFAST acronym because
if they see someone exhibiting these warning signs, they should
call 911 right away," said Andrew
Stemer, MD, a neurologist and Medical Director of the
Comprehensive Stroke Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and also performs
neuro interventional procedures at the Comprehensive Stroke Center
at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. "For the last letter,
'time,' we like to say that 'time is brain' so the sooner the
person having the stroke gets medical attention, the greater the
chance of saving their life and preventing permanent
disabilities."
The survey found that 83% of respondents knew to call 911 after
the first stroke symptom.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke happens when there is a blockage to the blood
supply to part of the brain (ischemic stroke) or when a blood
vessel in the brain bursts (hemorrhagic stroke). In either case,
parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause
lasting brain damage, long-term disability, and death.
"Because the brain needs oxygen to work properly, if something
happens to block the flow of blood, brain cells start to
die very quickly, within minutes, because they
can't get oxygen," said Dr. Stemer.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention report in 2021, one in six deaths from
cardiovascular disease was due to stroke, every 40 seconds someone
in the United States has a stroke
and every three minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies of stroke.
Other stroke survey results
Seventy-four percent of the people surveyed personally know
someone who has experienced a stroke and 55% say they have someone
in their life they fear is at risk. While most of the
respondents identified the factors that increase the risk of
stroke, only two percent could identify all these risk factors
correctly:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Family history
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Age
- Cancer
In addition, fewer than half identified eyesight changes and the
sudden onset of severe headache as signs of stroke and just six
percent of those surveyed could accurately identify all the signs
of stroke including:
- Speech difficulty
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Balance issues
- Eyesight changes
- Sudden onset of severe headache
"With the results of the survey showing that only six
percent of respondents knowing all the signs and symptoms of a
stroke, it's more important than ever that everyone understands the
acronym BEFAST," said Paul
Singh, MD, MPH, FAHA, director of the
Comprehensive Stroke Center and
Neuroendovascular Surgery at MedStar Franklin
Square Medical Center. "Time is critical when it comes to
stroke. Every minute counts to save brain cells and that directly
impacts recovery."
Stroke was the third leading health condition survey respondents
said they're concerned about personally after heart disease and
cancer.
BEFAST in Spanish is RÁPIDO
As part of our commitment to help all people in the communities
we serve, MedStar Health recently launched a Spanish version of
BEFAST called RÁPIDO, a new tool to help the Spanish-speaking
populations we serve understand the signs and symptoms of
stroke.
"RÁPIDO is a simple graphic that highlights stroke signs and
symptoms in Spanish," said M. Carter
Denny, MD, MPH, vascular neurologist at MedStar Health, who
also contributed to research efforts to develop and launch the new
tool. "A crucial step in providing equitable health care is
ensuring that we're reaching communities with accessible and
culturally tailored messaging. RÁPIDO aims to break down the
language barrier to initiating acute stroke care in Spanish
speaking communities."
The RÁPIDO graphic was developed by researchers from the
University of Texas Health Science
Center and is also endorsed by the American Heart Association.
"MedStar Health is committed to helping all people in the
communities we serve to reduce stroke-related disability by
controlling their risk factors, knowing the warning signs and when
to call 911 in the event of a possible stroke," said Dr. Denny.
"Every minute truly does count when it comes to stroke. Getting to
the hospital quickly can make the difference between life and
death, or a full recovery and a long-term disability."
MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and MedStar
Franklin Square Medical Center all offer Comprehensive Stroke
Centers (CSCs) accredited by The Joint Commission.
Comprehensive stroke centers offer the highest level of
certification for hospitals that have advanced and specific
capabilities to treat patients with the most complex stroke
cases.
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SOURCE MedStar Health