World Stroke Day is celebrated globally on October 29th. This year the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, is highlighting the importance of acting F.A.S.T. and stroke prevention.
Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Globally, about one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime.Even so, most adults in the U.S. don’t know the F.A.S.T warning signs of a stroke, and that stroke is largely treatable if you call 9-1-1 as soon as you recognize the symptoms.

Dave Johnson of Merrimack suffered a stroke last year. Then 64, Johnson was very busy traveling for business, spending time with his four adult children and several grandchildren, and powerlifting at the gym. He had just returned from a business trip and was hosting a weekend barbeque with his kids, their spouses and grandchildren. “I remember telling my daughter how tired I was and talking with my family, telling them that when I passed away that I didn’t want them to fight over anything. I mentioned some things and told them what I wanted each one of them to have. That’s definitely not like me, but we all chalked it up to fatigue.”
“That Monday, I awakened shortly around 1:00 am with my arm hanging off the bed completely numb. I went to roll over and my arm wouldn’t move with my body motion. I stood up and my left leg was numb, and I could barely move it. I walked across the hall to see if I could shake it off and nothing on my left side moved,” Johnson recalls.
“I knew it was most likely a stroke because, for many years, our company had us go to first aid CPR training annually and stroke recognition was always part of the training. I called the ambulance and dragged myself down the stairs backwards holding on with one hand and put on sweatpants and flip flops. I grabbed my insurance card and sent a text to my kids that I was in an ambulance so they would know in the morning.”
Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. – If you see Face drooping, Arm weakness or Speech difficulty, it’s Time to call 9-1-1.
- Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
- Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- Speech: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.”
- Time to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
If someone is having a stroke, they must get medical attention right away. Immediate treatment may minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.
“I had to learn to use a fork and a cup, how to walk, how to write with a pencil and many other tasks,” said Johnson. “After many different tests, I was diagnosed with an electrical impulse issue in the lower trunk of my heart that I’ve had for quite some time. I am now on a heart impulse modification drug, low doses of a statin and blood pressure medicine, as well as a blood thinner as preventative measures. I have fully recovered, and my doctors are amazed – calling it a miracle. I have been cleared by all my specialists and now just see them annually.”
Some people have a higher stroke risk, like stroke survivors and people who have AFib or high blood pressure, but a stroke can happen to anyone at any point in their lifetime. High blood pressure is a leading cause and controllable risk factor for stroke and heart disease. A large majority of strokes can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes such as moving more, eating healthily, managing your blood pressure, getting enough sleep and quitting smoking/vaping.
Make sure you “Know Your Numbers” – four key personal health numbers help determine risk for stroke: total cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar and body mass index. It’s also important to learn your family health history and then talk to your doctor about lowering your personal risk for stroke.
“My lifestyle changes included elimination of alcohol, lower amounts of caffeine, weightlifting five days a week, and walking three miles five days a week. I have lost 25 pounds and now use a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. I also had quite a few virtual counseling sessions to deal with my anxiety and worry about another stroke. I am grateful to the professionals that helped to heal me. I was so fortunate to be treated by a wonderful heart care team and a great cardiac rehab program,” said Johnson.
Nearly 1 in 4 strokes occur in people who have had a previous stroke, in some instances because they don’t know what caused the first stroke. Testing to identify a cause and additional stroke risk factors can help you and your health care professional develop a plan to keep you moving forward after a stroke and prevent another one.
On October 29, for World Stroke Day, join the American Stroke Association in raising awareness of stroke, its symptoms and supporting stroke survivors. Learn more at Stroke.org/WorldStrokeDay.