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Stroke 101: Risk Factors, Symptoms and How to ACT FAST to Save a Life!

Posted June 05, 2025 by Anupreet Kaur, M.D., FAAFP, Medical Director, Care Management and Population Health


Collage of graphics of brains

A stroke can change your life in an instant. It can affect movement, speech, emotional health and more, and in some cases, can cause long-term disability or death. It’s critical to recognize the signs and ACT FAST if you or someone else experiences one. 

Also known as “brain attacks,” strokes occur when blood flow is cut off to an area of the brain either by a blockage or a burst artery. Without blood flow—and the oxygen and nutrients that blood flow brings—brain cells die in just minutes. Needless to say, it’s a medical emergency—EVERY minute counts! 

Types of strokes:

Diagram of different types of strokes

  • The first, known as ischemic, is the most common type. These occur when blood flow through an artery to the brain gets blocked—either by a blood clot or buildup of plaque. 
  • The second, hemorrhagic, happens when a blood vessel in your brain bursts—usually from high blood pressure or aneurysms. Blood leaks into and around the brain, putting pressure on brain structures and damaging brain cells. 

What is a mini stroke or TIA?

Not all strokes or symptoms of strokes are equal in severity. For example, sometimes stroke symptoms can be fleeting, lasting only temporarily, when blood flow is briefly interrupted. Called a transient ischemic attack, TIA or mini-stroke. It is, however, a warning sign that a more severe stroke can occur in the future—and it should be treated as a medical emergency. Even more so since there’s no clear way to tell if someone is experiencing a mini-stroke or full ischemic stroke in the moment.

Knowing your risk factors and the signs of a stroke can save a life—maybe even your own! That’s why SummaCare is here to shed some light on what to do if the unfortunate happens. Even with preventative steps, strokes can and do occur—but learning how to act quickly and get medical intervention fast can vastly increase the odds of improved outcomes and recovery. 

Signs of a stroke:

The BE FAST acronym is an easy way to remember stroke symptoms.
 
Graphic with stroke symptoms

Recognizing the signs of a stroke is critical for timely medical intervention to minimize damage or save a life—even your own! 

Stroke treatment—TIME IS BRAIN!

A stroke is an emergency and EVERY minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the potential for brain damage and disability. Act fast and call for an ambulance instead of driving to the hospital yourself during a stroke, so medical personnel can begin providing lifesaving treatment immediately. 

It’s also important to note the time symptoms of a stroke begin. Timing matters, and this information can help medical personnel determine what treatment options are best.

Treatment at the hospital is dependent on the type of stroke (which is diagnosed by brain imaging in the hospital):

For an ischemic stroke, treatment involves removing the blockage as quickly as possible, either with medication or surgery. Medication called Alteplase (or tPA) can be given up to 3 hours of the onset of the stroke to dissolve the blood clot and restore blood flow in the brain which can completely reverse any deficits.

For hemorrhagic strokes, treatment focuses on controlling bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain, usually through a combination of medication and surgery. 

Long-term effects of stroke and what to expect during stroke rehabilitation

A stroke is life-changing and can have far-reaching effects, including paralysis or weakness, especially on one side of the body, trouble speaking, swallowing, issues with memory, concentration and learning, difficulty controlling emotions, even personality and behavioral changes. 

How a stroke affects a person depends on which part of the brain is damaged and the extent of the injury. 

For example, if a stroke occurs in the left side of the brain, movement and feeling on the right side of your body may be affected, along with speech and language problems, and difficulty with abstract thinking, organization and reasoning. If a stroke occurs in the right side of the brain, movement and feeling on your left side of your body may be affected, along with vision problems and difficulty with spatial thinking, memory, emotional processing and judgement. 

No two stroke survivors are the same, and there are many ways to aid recovery. That’s why it’s so important to work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalized approach to managing and coping with a “new normal.”

Depending on the brain damage, your stroke rehabilitation may include:

  • Physical therapy to relearn motor skills, such as walking, standing, sitting and switching between these modes and decreasing other physical limitations. 
  • Occupational therapy to regain daily functioning skills you once knew, such as eating and drinking, bathing, dressing and toileting, with the goal of reclaiming independence. 
  • Speech therapy to relearn language, speaking and conversation skills, or other forms of communication. 
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy, which examines the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors, to develop problem-solving skills and change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors. 
  • Medications, such as antidepressants, to help you deal with anxiety or depression, in addition to treating apathy and aggression.  
  • Brain-training techniques to help you with cognitive issues or memory loss. Practicing skills over and over again is key, like playing memory games, doing Sudoku puzzles, word searches or finding the difference between two similar pictures. 
Stroke recovery is focused on helping you regain as much function as possible to return to independent living. It’s also important to develop coping strategies and routines to aid recovery. 

Establishing structured routines can help you recover a sense of control and stability while minimizing stress. This might include setting specific goals using a reminder app, breaking tasks into simple steps or engaging in activities that promote emotional well-being.

Additionally, it’s good to have a strong stroke support network of family, friends and healthcare providers to help not only with the physical stress of coordinating care but also who can help you cope with the mental health issues that may arise during your recovery. 

Every person’s recovery process from a stroke is unique. But, the sooner you begin rehabilitation, the better your odds are of regaining function, independence and regaining your health. 

Preventing stroke

The risk for stroke increases with age, but anyone can have one. While some risk factors for stroke are uncontrollable, like age (higher risk for those 55 and older), family history and race, the good news is that most strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle habits and managing chronic conditions

Controllable risk factors for stroke include:
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Smoking
  • Poor diet and obesity
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
Regular checkups with your doctor to manage risk factors and treat underlying causes of stroke are essential preventive steps. 
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