SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) \u2014 With World Stroke Day approaching Thursday, the American Heart Association (AHA) held a workshop Monday evening at Albright Memorial Library in Scranton to help people recognize the warning signs of a stroke and understand why acting quickly could save a life.<\/p>\n
Tamara Ramer, AHA senior community impact director, led the workshop as part of a series of educational presentations at the library. She explained that bringing these programs into local communities allows the organization to meet people where they are, making stroke education more accessible.<\/p>\n
During the presentation, Ramer walked attendees through the B.E. F.A.S.T. method, highlighting how to identify potential stroke symptoms. She also addressed common misconceptions about what a stroke can look like.<\/p>\n
“It’s those warning signs. Those are the important things because people don’t recognize right away that something as simple as balance being off could be a warning sign of a stroke. Same with vision problems. You know, maybe they’re just thinking, ‘Oh, it’s just age,’ or something like that. But it’s when these kinds of things come on suddenly. That’s when we need to remember that that’s an important warning sign,” said Ramer.<\/p>\n
The acronym B.E. F.A.S.T. helps people identify the warning signs of a stroke and understand when to seek emergency medical attention:<\/p>\n
B \u2014 Balance loss: Sudden dizziness, trouble walking or loss of coordination.E \u2014 Eye changes: Sudden blurred or double vision, or loss of sight in one or both eyes.F \u2014 Face drooping: One side of the face droops or feels numb, causing an uneven smile.A \u2014 Arm weakness: One arm feels weak or numb or drifts downward when both arms are raised.S \u2014 Speech difficulty: Slurred speech, trouble speaking or difficulty repeating a simple sentence.T \u2014 Time to call 911: Call immediately if any of these symptoms appear.<\/p>\n
According to the American Stroke Association (ASA), about 1.9 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated. Ramer stressed the importance of calling 911 as soon as a stroke is suspected so emergency personnel can begin treatment quickly. The ASA emphasizes that first responders would rather respond to a false alarm than risk someone dying or suffering lifelong disability.<\/p>\n
In the United States, someone experiences a stroke about every 40 seconds, adding up to roughly 800,000 new or recurring strokes each year. Stroke remains a leading cause of adult disability, and according to the ASA, about one in four adults worldwide will experience a stroke during their lifetime.<\/p>\n
While age and family history can increase the risk of stroke, the presentation highlighted that as many as four out of five strokes may be prevented. Healthy habits like eating well, managing blood sugar and staying active can help lower that risk. The AHA recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week.<\/p>\n