Essential facts about stroke everyone should know

(NC) Every year, more than 108,000 strokes happen in Canada—yet many people don’t know the risk factors, or how to recognize if someone is having one and what to do.

“When I talk to Canadians, I realize that there's a lot they don’t know about stroke,” says Katie White, director of health systems for Heart & Stroke. “During Stroke Month—and really every month—we want people to understand it so they can manage their risk and be prepared to act quickly if it strikes.”

How stroke happens, and who’s at risk

A stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain, damaging brain cells. While the risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone at any age. Young adults, babies and even young children can experience one. For children, the risk is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth, and there are more than 10,000 kids under 19 living with stroke.

Conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke, sometimes dramatically, and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions, including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system—a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the body.

A stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada, with almost a million people living with stroke nationwide. Our aging population is one reason for the rise, along with increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes in younger people. Fortunately, more people are surviving thanks to research breakthroughs, awareness and better treatment and care.

What to do in an emergency

Recognizing the signs and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. If you suspect someone near you is having a stroke, remember FAST:

• F - face, is it drooping?
• A - arms, can you raise them?
• S - speech, is it slurred or jumbled?
• T - time to call 9-1-1 right away.

Find tips and more to help you take charge of your health at heartandstroke.ca/healthy-living.