 Health & Nutrition
Thoughts on
Aging
Stroke
(2 minutes: 49 seconds)
 MP3 (audio
only)
Audio/Video Script:
Dr. LaVona Traywick
Assistant Professor - Gerontology
[Announcer] Welcome to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona Traywick,
Assistant Professor of Gerontology with the University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service.
[Dr. LaVona Traywick] According to the American Stroke Association, a stroke
is a type of cardiovascular disease. Stroke affects the arteries leading from
the heart to the brain as well as within the brain.
For example, when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the
brain is either blocked by a clot or it bursts, a stroke occurs and part of the
brain cannot get the proper blood and oxygen it needs so it starts to die. The
effect of the stroke on the rest of the body will depend upon the part of the
brain affected.
On average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds in the United States and kills a
person every 3 to 4 minutes.
Do you know the warning signs of stroke? They are:
Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one
side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
Although there are treatments that help to reduce the risk of damage
associated with the most common type of stroke, treatment is dependent on time.
If you think someone you know is having a stroke, using the "Think FAST"
approach:
Fast - F A S T
F stands for Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the
face droop?)
A for Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm not go
up and the other drift down?)
S for Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as
"The sky is blue." Are their words slurred? Can he or she repeat the
sentence correctly?
T for Time: Call 911 immediately if the person has trouble with
any of these tasks. Time is critical. So think fast.
For more general stroke information contact your local cooperative Extension
Service or the American Stroke Association.
I'm Dr. LaVona Traywick and these are just a few "Thoughts on Aging."
[Announcer] Thank you for listening to Thoughts on Aging with Dr. LaVona
Traywick. To learn more about this and other topics, contact your local county
Cooperative
Extension Service office.
References:
National Stroke Association. "Learn about Stroke." Retrieved 1-13-09 from
http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030387
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