As a firefighter’s daughter, I thought I knew all about basic lifesaving information. I thought I knew what a stroke was and who was most likely to experience one.
Mostly the elderly, I thought, especially elderly men. Not 32-year-old women like me. My age would protect me, I thought, even though I was overweight, stressed, and smoked!
In June 2010, I woke up with pain in the back of my neck, severe vertigo, and distorted vision. I also was severely nauseated and couldn’t speak. Because I never considered it could be a stroke—and because some of the initial symptoms like my garbled speech dissipated early—and was a stubborn working mother, I waited two days to seek medical attention.
When I finally landed in the emergency room and heard my father tell me I’d had a stroke caused by a spontaneous vertebral artery tear, I was shocked and confused—and frightened. I remained in the hospital for 10 days where I was treated with blood thinners, including warfarin, and other medications.
Educating Others
Today, I am proud to call myself a stroke survivor. I’m also a lot healthier having quit smoking, lost weight, and managed stress better. Every chance I get, I educate people about stroke symptoms and stroke treatment. One of the first questions I ask them is, “Do you know the signs of a stroke? Would you be able tell a friend or loved one that something is not right, let’s call 911?”
Before my stroke, my answer would have been a sheepish “No.” Today, I know better and together we can save a life. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and a major cause of disability, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something such as a blood clot forms, most commonly in your heart, and goes through your bloodstream and settles in the narrower brain arteries or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. My stroke was different and less common. I had a tear in the artery leading to my brain. In all these case, parts of the brain become damaged or die. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
Stroke Checklist
The way I remember and keep a mental checklist for the signs of stroke is with an acronym called B.E.F.A.S.T., an update of the American Stroke Association’s F.A.S.T. acronym by stroke experts who thought balance and vision problems were important signs to include.
B: Is your balance off?
E: Is your eyesight blurry or blank?
F: Is your face drooping?
A: Are your arms weak?
S: Is your speech slurred or nonsensical?
T: Time to call 911 right away (Don’t ask a friend or family member to drive you; call 911 and request an ambulance.)
You are never too busy to take care of yourself. Learn the signs, take care of your mind and body, and allow others to help you.
Kelly Fucheck lives in Houston with her husband and two children. She is a certified health coach and founder of the blog, A Size Strong. She also co-hosts the podcast Unfiltered Survivors and coaches CrossFit. She likes to write, listen to music, and spend time with her family.
