May is National Stroke Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about the signs of a stroke, treatment options, and the critical importance of seeking immediate medical care. This condition can significantly impact physical and cognitive abilities.
Allan Perel, MD, chief of the Department of Neurology and medical director of the Stroke Center at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, highlighted the prevalence of strokes in the United States. “According to the CDC, nearly 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke annually and over 130,000 of these cases prove fatal,” he stated. Dr. Perel emphasized that while stroke incidences have slightly declined due to effective blood pressure control, strokes remain a leading cause of significant neurological disability. He noted this concern is particularly relevant for Staten Island, which has high rates of smoking, obesity, and stroke among New York City’s five boroughs.
Dr. Perel explained that recognizing stroke symptoms early can be aided by using the acronym ‘FAST,’ which stands for ‘Face symmetry,’ ‘Arm,’ ‘Speech,’ and ‘Time.’ He advised that symptoms such as slurred speech, weakness or numbness in an arm or on one side, facial asymmetry or drooping, severe headaches or dizziness should prompt immediate medical attention. “Too many people decide to just lay down and take a nap on the premise that they’ll ‘sleep off’ their symptoms; more people go back to sleep than should,” he said.
He stressed that even if symptoms turn out to be minor issues like heartburn, it’s better to err on the side of caution. “Being left with a significant disability and losing independence is one of the biggest fears we have for ourselves and our families,” Dr. Perel added.
For those reluctant to visit an emergency room due to potential stroke symptoms, Dr. Perel assured rapid treatment at Richmond University Medical Center: “Acute neurological symptoms that may be indicative of a stroke are taken extremely seriously.”
Discussing ischemic strokes where blood supply is cut off from the brain, Dr. Perel noted: “If the supply of blood to the brain is cut off (in the case of an ischemic stroke), two million brain cells die per minute.” He pointed out that early treatment with clot-busting medications like TPA or TNK improves outcomes significantly.
Richmond University Medical Center’s advanced capabilities include being a Gold Plus-certified Advanced Primary Stroke Center with thrombectomy status. For large vessel occlusions confirmed by CAT scan angiograms (CTA), their team follows streamlined procedures for rapid intervention.
“The hospitals on Staten Island operate at a very high level,” said Dr. Perel regarding local facilities’ competency in recognizing and treating strokes effectively.
During Stroke Awareness Month and beyond, Dr. Perel urged individuals experiencing neurological symptoms: “Run, don’t walk to the hospital if you have any neurological symptoms.”
Richmond University Medical Center is located at 355 Bard Ave., Staten Island. More information about their services can be found at www.rumcsi.org/designatedstrokecenter or by calling 844-934-CARE.
— Susan Bloom
