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Survey Shows 5 in 6 Don't Know Signs of Stroke or Correct Response: Study Urges More Education

May 9—Quick quiz. Which of the following are warning signs of a stroke: Sudden confusion, numbness, headache, blurred vision or chest pain?

If you answered “all the above,” you’re wrong (chest pain is a symptom of heart attack, not stroke). But don’t feel too bad.

Only one in six people surveyed in Florida and nationally could identify all the correct signs of stroke and also name the most critical thing to do in response (call 911), says a new report Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It’s a little disappointing,” said Dr. Jing Fang, a CDC researcher who was lead author of the report. “We need more efforts to educate people.”

Stroke is a sudden interruption in blood flow to the brain, caused by a blocked or ruptured blood vessel.

The warning signs all relate to brain activity: Sudden confusion or trouble speaking. Sudden numbness or weakness in the face or limbs, especially on one side. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble with walking, balance or dizziness. Sudden, sharp headache with no apparent cause.

Obvious, maybe, but specialists said people don’t watch for stroke like they do heart disease, even though stroke is the third leading killer in the nation, claiming 150,000 lives a year, including about 9,300 in Florida.

Strokes strike about 700,000 people a year, 500,000 for the first time. One quarter are under age 65. Ten to 20 percent of stroke victims do not survive; many others suffer lingering disabilities.

Fast response is critical. In bleeding strokes (aneurysms), immediate surgery is the answer. In blockage strokes (ischemia), a drug called TPA can prevent severe brain damage if given within three hours, the sooner the better.

“Don’t take any chances,” said Sharlene Stoklosa, stroke coordinator at JFK Medical Center, one of only four comprehensive stroke centers in the area. “Better to err on the side of caution.”

Stoklosa said many stroke patients – especially younger ones – see the symptoms beforehand but dismiss them as something minor.

“Numbness of the arm or leg, they think they could have slept wrong and attribute it to that. Difficulty seeing out of one eye, they can think their prescription has changed,” she said.

In the random survey of 72,000 Americans, more than 80 percent could pick out most of the warning signs, but only 60 percent knew about headaches. Seven of eight knew to call 911 first. But very few knew all the right answers.

Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, inactive lifestyle, obesity, past heart disease, past mini-strokes called transient ischemic attacks and excessive use of alcohol or drugs.