After enjoying a few signature drinks, he pushed his wife (who was recovering from knee surgery) across the room in a wheelchair. In that instant, his life changed. Suddenly, a strange feeling arose in his body. It felt as if his right leg had gone to sleep. Not sure what to do, he told his wife that he wanted to go back to the hotel room because he didn’t feel quite right.
Upon reaching the room, the tingly sensation spread throughout the right side of his body. First, his right arm stopped moving. Seconds later, the right side of his mouth felt as if it was numb. And finally, the entire right side of his body stopped moving altogether.
Cooper immediately knew that the situation could be life-threatening. “I’m having a stroke,” he attempted to utter. “Call 911.”
Because his words were mumbled, his wife didn’t understand what he was saying. Thinking he was having a heart attack, she went downstairs to find a doctor.
Trapped in the room, Cooper tried to walk. However, his efforts were fruitless. He tripped and fell down on the floor, nearly paralyzed. Helpless.
Minutes later, it was as if nothing had ever happened. Not only did the symptoms subside, but he also felt just fine.
By the time paramedics reached him, the symptoms were gone. After being given an aspirin, he was transported to Northwestern Hospital to undergo tests. Doctors soon told him that he had suffered a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, otherwise known as a mini-stroke. And later, the missing piece in the puzzle would be solved. The Mayo Clinic would tell him he may have suffered the TIA due to an undetected hole in his heart.
Cooper was lucky. He had no residual symptoms and started medication to prevent a future stroke. And though he chose to retire early due to the high risk of having a full-blown stroke, he has never had one. Nearly 16 years later, Cooper is living a happy and healthy life.
Unfortunately, not every stroke story unfolds in this manner. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), without treatment, more than a third of people who have a TIA end up having a major stroke within one year. Ten to 15 percent of those occur within three months of a TIA.
Strokes are deadly. In fact, they are the fifth-leading cause of death in the United States. About 800,000 Americans suffer strokes each year. And one American will die from a stroke every four minutes, according to the CDC.
The question is: What causes a stroke? Strokes are often caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain. If something interrupts blood flow, brain cells start to die within minutes because they can’t get oxygen. And sudden bleeding in the brain can cause a stroke if it damages brain cells.
Strokes can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability or even death. If a stroke kills or damages brain cells, symptoms of that damage start to show in the parts of the body controlled by those brain cells. A stroke's damage may be irreversible.
Three different conditions result in strokes. The first and most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke. These are usually caused by blood clots and account for about 85 percent of stroke cases. The brain is deprived of oxygen-rich blood through its main artery.
The second, less common type of stroke is a hemorrhagic stroke. This type of stroke is often caused by two health factors: high blood pressure and aneurysms. According to the CDC, a hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures. The leaked blood puts pressure on brain cells, damaging them.
The third type of stroke that can occur is the type that Cooper had -- a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. And there’s a reason that it’s often referred to as a mini-stroke.
TIA differs from major types of stroke because blood flow to the brain is blocked for only a short time -- usually no more than 5 minutes, according to the CDC. The scary thing is that the word “mini” often throws people off. Though this type of stroke may not sound severe, it is. That’s because, left untreated, more than one-third of people who suffer from a TIA will have a major stroke within a year.
In truth, most people don’t know what to do if someone suffers a stroke. This leaves a blind spot when it comes to dealing with this dire situation.
Learning how to deal with a stroke begins with knowing the signs. One of the most important signs of a stroke is exactly what Cooper experienced. That’s a strange tingly sensation and weakness that may strike one side of the body. And like Cooper, sufferers may find speaking difficult. Further, vision may be impaired, and a strange headache or confusion may occur.
When it comes to strokes, timing is everything. The quicker help is sought, the better chance of recovery. In fact, the CDC says the most effective stroke treatments are only available if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within three hours of the first symptoms. Stroke patients may not be eligible for the most effective treatments if they don’t arrive at the hospital in time. That’s why the CDC has developed a system called F.A.S.T. It’s a test to determine whether or not you or someone you love is having a stroke.
F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or strange?
T—Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. If a stroke is suspected, it is crucial to note the exact time when symptoms became apparent. This helps medical workers to know what treatments to give.
The CDC stresses the importance of calling an ambulance rather than having a suspected stroke victim driven to the hospital. This gives medical professionals the chance to start life-saving treatments while in transit to the hospital. It’s also important to reduce the risk of stroke in general. Keep weight in check, monitor blood pressure and stop smoking.