Stroke Prevention: Know the Risk Factors

The UnitedHealthcare network is the provider for the APWU Health Plan. Below are some tips shared in its Let’s Move newsletter to help you stay informed and empowered about your health care.

Know the Risk Factors

Stroke is the fifth-leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in America. Knowing the risk factors you can control may help prevent stroke from happening to you or a loved one. Help reduce your risk of stroke by having regular checkups and following treatment plans such as taking prescription medications as prescribed, getting regular physical activity, and following a healthy diet. You may not be able to control all of your risk factors, so try to stay focused on the ones you may have some control over.

F.A.S.T. Warning Signs²

By seeking immediate treatment, stroke patients may have higher survival rates and lower disability rates. Making the call to 911 allows first responders to begin treatment before the patient arrives at the hospital. Use the letters in F.A.S.T. to help identify a stroke.

F = Face Drooping

Typically noticeable on one side of the face with visible drooping or numbness. A person’s smile appears uneven.

A = Arm Weakness

When the arms are lifted overhead, one arm drifts downward due to weakness or numbness.

S = Speech Difficulty

Speech is slurred or nonsensical.

T = Time to call 911

A stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts to get the best care, making it important to note the time when symptoms are first noticed or experienced. ■

Risk Factors You May Control and Treat Include:

• High blood pressure;
• Smoking;
• Physical inactivity;
• Diabetes;
• Diet;
• Obesity;
• High blood cholesterol;
• Carotid artery disease;
• Peripheral artery disease;
• Atrial fibrillation;
• Other coronary disease (heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart defects, or enlarged heart);
• Sickle cell disease.

Other risk factors you may not control include: age, family history, race, gender, prior stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or heart attack.¹

1 American Stroke Association, https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-riskfactors

2 American Stroke Association, https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-symptoms

This communication is going to eligible members and is not intended to imply the recipient has a specific condition or disease.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a doctor. Consult your doctor prior to beginning an exercise program or making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine. © 2024 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.