Mississippi is ranked #1 in the United States for the highest rate of death from stroke. The faster a stroke is treated, the higher the likelihood it may be reversed. Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to determine if you or a loved one is having a stroke[1]:

Signs of Stroke

• Face drooping – Is one side of the person’s face drooping? Look at the eye, cheek, or lips to check for any unusual asymmetry or droopiness.
• Arm weakness – Is the person experiencing arm weakness? Ask them to raise both arms to shoulder height and check for one arm that seems lower than the other.
• Slurred speech— Is the person’s speech slurred, or are they speaking in an unintelligible way?
• Time to call 911— It’s time to call 911 or your local emergency services. Be sure to tell them you think it’s a stroke.

Other important warning signs to be aware of are:

• The person seems to be having trouble understanding you or speaking coherently.
• The person appears to be confused, have trouble seeing or walking.
• The person is experiencing a painful headache.
• The person is experiencing numbness on their face, arm, legs, or a specific side of their body.

If you or someone you love is experiencing signs and symptoms of stroke, dial 911 and do not drive to the hospital. Learn more about why here (insert link to dial 911 blog).

Stroke Prevention

With stroke, there are risk factors you can control like those associated with lifestyle choices and others that we cannot control such as age, gender, race, and family history.

Stroke Risk Factors You Can Control

• Diet and Exercise – Eating right and ensuring you have the right amount of physical activity will not only reduce your risk for stroke but for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and other conditions as well.
• Smoking and drinking – If you smoke or vape, quit. There are several resources to help you quit, including this list from The American Lung Association. Drinking too much will also increase risk for stroke because it raises blood pressure and triglycerides levels, which may increase fat gathering in the arteries.
• Sedentary Lifestyle – Office jobs and working from home require being seated for long periods of time. It’s extremely important to take breaks from sitting throughout the day and aim for getting 10,000 steps each day.
• High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol – If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol make sure to take your prescribed medications according to your physician’s instructions. If you have a family history or are interested in whether you may be at risk of having high blood pressure and cholesterol, read more here.[2]
• Heart Disease and Diabetes – The steps to prevent heart disease and diabetes are very similar to those for stroke. Read more here about heart disease and here about diabetes.

About the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance

Our mission is to help hospitals, EMS agencies and communities. We have helped them by creating the STEMI System of Care (SOC), Stroke SOC, Cardiac Arrest Collaborative, and most recently, the Sepsis Collaborative, to provide standard care guidelines to reduce mortality, morbidity, and financial strains.

MHCA provides funding for numerous activities to reduce mortality, morbidity, and the financial burden in the State of Mississippi due to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and sepsis.

[1] https://thestrokefoundation.org/home/stroke-facts/warning-signs/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA_5WvBhBAEiwAZtCU70S69EHh1jXGPkh77HGehNak4r9p3TjQwout7_kK6vWA9kernr6srxoCqYYQAvD_BwE, Accessed March 4, 2024.

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm, Accessed March 4, 2024.