FAST action is required for diagnosing a stroke

The recent death of actor Luke Perry has increased the focus on strokes.

Perry, 52, died Monday after suffering a massive stroke five days earlier.

Dr. Brett Graham, a stroke neurologist with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, appeared on Gormley earlier this week to discuss what people should watch for when it comes to strokes.

“The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, along with a number of other foundations across the world, have come up with what’s called the FAST campaign,” Graham said. “That’s an acronym people can remember to watch out for the signs and symptoms of stroke.”

The F in FAST stands for “face,” the A is for “arm,” the S is for “speech” and the T stands for “time.” If someone’s face is drooping on one side, if one of their arms is weak or if their speech is jumbled or slurred, they could be suffering a stroke. If so, it’s time to call 9-1-1.

“Stroke, if caught early, is a treatable medical emergency,” Graham said. “And it’s important to know these signs and symptoms because a lot of times when people are having a stroke, especially a large stroke, they can’t make that call themselves.

“By knowing these signs and symptoms, you could be helping out a co-worker, you could be helping out a family member or friend by calling 9-1-1 and hopefully getting rapid assessment and hopefully rapid treatment.”

Graham noted there are two types of strokes. The majority are ischemic strokes, which occur when the arteries to the brain are blocked. There also are hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by a ruptured artery in the brain.

Most strokes are suffered by people between the ages of 50 and 70, Graham said, and common causes are hypertension, being overweight, or having diabetes, high cholesterol or kidney disease.

When people under 50 suffer strokes, doctors look for arterial damage caused by injury or other factors that could increase blood pressure.

The key to surviving a stroke, Graham said, is quick treatment. He noted medication can be used to break down the clots, or the clots can be removed by a slightly invasive surgical procedure.

“Time is key,” Graham said. “The faster we get the drug in the person (or) the faster we open up arteries, the better the chance the person will have for an independent, good outcome.”