The Two-Word Answer to Surviving a Stroke
Eric began panicking when he forgot his cat's name...
He also couldn't recall his parents' names either. And he couldn't even get a full sentence out.
Luckily, he made it to the hospital quickly with the help of his wife. That's where doctors quickly determined Eric had suffered a stroke.
Strokes progress rapidly. A few hours can mean the difference between preventing permanent damage and never easily walking or speaking again. It's critical to get medical attention right away if you are having a stroke. To help keep you and your loved ones informed, we're answering some common questions about strokes (and the two words you must memorize if you want to improve your odds of survival).
Every minute counts during a stroke. Without adequate oxygen, you start losing brain cells... literally.
On average, they start dying off to the tune of about 2 million neurons every minute.
Let that go on long enough, and you could end up with permanent brain damage or worse, you could die.
Worldwide, strokes are the No. 2 cause of death. They're also the fifth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Now let's go over some common questions about strokes so you and your loved ones know what to do in the event of this medical emergency...
So what exactly is a stroke?
It's when a part of your brain stops getting oxygen from its blood supply due to a lack of blood flow. Essentially, the blood vessel feeding that section gets blocked. And without oxygen, your brain cells die.
Strokes can cause brain damage, disability, and death. That's why emergency care is required for any stroke event.
Are there different kinds of strokes?
Yes, there are two main kinds, to be exact...
Ischemic: This word means there's a blockage in the blood vessel, usually from a blood clot. The blockage prevents the blood – and the oxygen in your blood – from reaching your brain tissue. Ischemic strokes account for nearly 90% of all strokes.
Hemorrhagic: This happens when a weak blood vessel (or an aneurysm) breaks open. Not only does your brain tissue not get the blood it needs, but the leaked blood can start to compress surrounding areas and cause more damage. In fact, 1 in 3 people die before making it to the hospital in the case of a stroke involving an aneurysm.
Between the two types of strokes, hemorrhagic is far more fatal than ischemic.
And guess what?
Hemorrhagic strokes are six times more common among older Americans who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (like a concussion).
(For more on concussions – including busting some common myths and the best way to avoid concussions – check out this recent issue of my flagship newsletter Retirement Millionaire. For those of you who haven't subscribed yet, you can try it out for a month, risk free.)
OK, then what exactly is a "mini" stroke?
It goes by the technical moniker of "transient ischemic attack" ("TIA"). A TIA happens when a partial clot or blockage briefly cuts off blood flow. But don't be fooled by the word "mini" – TIAs are no joke.
Because of the brief cutoff in blood flow, you might only experience symptoms for a short period of time. That makes it all the easier for folks to ignore them.
Symptoms include sudden numbness in the face, arm, or leg. Other symptoms include issues with sight, speech, balance, as well as dizziness.
TIAs shouldn't be brushed off because they're often the precursors to full-blown strokes.
In fact, almost 1 in 5 Americans who have a suspected TIA end up having a stroke within the next three months. According to the American Heart Association ("AHA"), about one-third of American adults have had TIA symptoms, but only 3% ever call 911. Worse, about a third of folks who experience a TIA and don't get proper treatment have a major stroke within one year.
How do I know if I'm having a stroke?
Courtesy of the AHA, just remember "BE FAST." It stands for:
Balance lost
Eyesight blurry
Face drooping
Arm weakness
Speech difficulty
Time to call 911
So use "BE FAST" when you suspect a loved one is having a stroke by asking them...
- To speak and to stick out their tongue to look for facial issues like drooping or listen for slurred speech.
- To raise both arms to check for coordination and arm strength.
- If they can see clearly in both eyes.
- If they've noticed trouble eating, swallowing, or feeling confused all of a sudden.
Should I pop some aspirin at the first sign of a stroke?
No. You might be thinking of a heart attack, since quickly chewing and swallowing an aspirin during a heart attack can help prevent blood clots and improve blood flow to the ticker. But taking aspirin will worsen bleeding if the stroke happens to be of the hemorrhagic variety.
Strokes do fall under the cardiovascular disease category, alongside heart disease, which can cause heart attacks. And both a heart attack and a stroke are medical emergencies, due to a sudden decrease or stoppage of blood flow to the heart or brain, respectively.
So what do you do if you think you or someone else is having a stroke?
Like I mentioned, if you do suspect someone is having a stroke, call 911 – don't attempt to drive them to the nearest emergency room. That's because emergency services will have the right equipment to start life-saving measures right away, on the way to the hospital.
Plus, in the event that the person stops breathing or becomes unresponsive, you'll be available to administer CPR (which the 911 dispatcher can guide you through) to manually push and circulate the blood to the brain. (But in the event that you live in a remote area and the dispatcher tells you emergency personnel are delayed, you may be instructed to drive to the hospital as a last resort.)
Otherwise, stay by the person. And if they're conscious, you can promote more blood flow to the brain by gently getting them to lie on their side with their head slightly elevated. Loosen any tight clothing, too.
Whatever you do, don't give them anything to eat or drink. That's because they might lose control of their muscles due to the stroke, which can then result in choking.
Mention on the phone (or make a mental note to tell the first responders later) when symptoms began. It'll help doctors decide on effective treatment.
For instance, tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, is a medication that can break down blood clots to treat ischemic strokes. But it must be given within three to 4.5 hours from the start of a stroke.
Finally, if you think you might be having a stroke, call 911 and try to remain calm until help arrives while following all the steps above.
What We're Reading...
- Something different: Sharks can be pretty loud.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
March 27, 2025