Be Prepared: Stroke Risk May Be Closer Than You Think

Have you thought about stroke lately?

That may sound like an odd question, but the fact is that many people rarely think about the possibility of having a stroke, believing that stroke happens only to old people, to people who are sick with other major diseases, or mostly to men.

The reality is much different. According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, affecting people of all ages and races, both men and women. In fact, 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year, and women are twice as likely to die from stroke than from breast cancer in any given year.

"A stroke can occur either when an artery of the brain becomes blocked—which stops blood flow to that area of the brain—or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts," said neurologist Henry Tang, D.O., medical director of Simi Valley Hospital's stroke program. "Although there are certainly medical and lifestyle factors that can increase someone's risk of stroke, the fact is that it can occur in just about anyone—from couch potato to elite athlete, and everyone in between."

For that reason, Dr. Tang asserted, it is important for everyone to learn to recognize the signs of stroke and to have a plan for how to react.


During a stroke, two million brain cells die every minute. The most important factor in reducing the long-term effects of stroke is to identify it as soon as possible after the symptoms begin and to then seek immediate medical help.

The American Stroke Association uses the acronym FAST to help people remember the key elements of identifying and responding to a stroke:

F—Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop, or does the person say it feels numb? Ask the person to smile to help you determine whether or not the face is drooping.

A—Arm weakness. Ask the person to raise his or her arms. Watch to see if one arm drifts back downward, as if the person is having trouble controlling it.

S—Speech difficulty. Is the person having trouble speaking, or is it difficult to understand what he or she is saying? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as "The sky is blue," and see if he or she is able to do so.

T—Time to call. If any symptoms—face drooping, arm weakness or speech difficulty—is present, call 911 immediately. Do this even if the symptoms occur but later seem to go away.

Other stroke symptoms to be aware of include:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg.

Sudden confusion or trouble understanding.

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.


Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

"Just as we've learned how important it is to recognize the signs of heart attack, it is equally important to learn the signs of stroke," Dr. Tang said. "By taking just a few minutes to learn what stroke looks like and what to do if you spot those signs, you could literally save someone's life."

Certified Stroke Program at Simi Valley Hospital

For residents of Simi Valley, Moorpark and the surrounding communities, fast and thorough care for stroke patients is available nearby, at Simi Valley Hospital. Since December 2012, Simi Valley Hospital has been a provider in the Ventura County EMS stroke network which mean that the county allows stroke patients to be transported to Simi Valley Hospital for timely care.

More recently, the hospital was certified as a primary stroke center by The Joint Commission, the nation's leading independent accrediting organization for hospitals. This certification confirms that Simi Valley Hospital has the personnel, procedures and facilities to provide outstanding care for stroke patients.

Simi Valley Hospital has a stroke response team of medical professionals who gather immediately to help stroke victims the moment they enter the hospital. This includes a neurologist, who arrives within 30 minutes of being called, day or night. Stroke patients receive priority for CT scans and lab tests and have one-on-one nursing care throughout the critical first period of their treatment.
