ANKENY, Iowa – There is an increase in younger people in Iowa suffering from strokes.
Mercy Medical Center Stroke Coordinator Terri Hamm says early detection of symptoms and the first steps taken by first responders are key to a recovery.
“What they identify, and how they asses that patient allows us to be alerted they may be bringing in a stroke patient. That alert allows us to be at the bedside when the patient rolls through the door in the emergency department.”
There are two main types of strokes. Ischemic strokes happen when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is obstructed.
The second is a hemorrhagic stroke, which happens when a weakened blood vessel ruptures.
A minor stoke is called a transient ischemic attack. TIA is a temporary clot that shows the same symptoms of a full stroke.
Symptoms of a stroke include: a sudden severe headache, sudden blurred vision, decreased vision, sudden dizziness, trouble speaking and sudden weakness or numbness in face, arms, legs or side of the body.
“If you get the sudden onset of all the symptoms that are a stroke, even if they go away quickly, we urge you to go in and see a practitioner. Whether it is your doctor, go to the urgent care or hospital we want to see you because sometimes those are the harbingers of a big stroke coming,” Hamm said.
Actor Luke Perry died at the age of 52 from a massive stroke.
According to WHO Channel 13, Medical Mercy Center in Des Moines saw an average age of 54 in people treated for a stroke in 2018.
However, Hamm said she has seen an increase of children, teens and young adults being treated for a stroke.
Risk factors that can cause a stroke include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, smoking, heavy alcohol use, obesity and family history.