Stroke Risk Factors a Mystery to Most
Stroke Risk Factors a Mystery to Most
But Public Knowledge of Warning Signs Growing
Jan. 14, 2003 -- Getting to the hospital as soon as possible after a stroke starts is key to warding off the potentially disabling effects. But a new survey shows that although people may know more about stroke warning signs than in the past, most people don't understand what actually increases the risk of having a stroke.
For the study, researchers surveyed about 2,000 residents of the greater Cincinnati area in 2000 and asked them to name at least three major warning signs and risk factors for stroke. Then the researchers compared their results to a similar survey conducted in 1995.
In 2000, 70% of the respondents were able to correctly name at least one established warning sign of stroke, compared with only 57% in 1995. But when it came to correctly naming at least one major risk factor, there was only a 4% increase in awareness from 1995 to 2000 (68% to 72%).
The results appear in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Study researcher Alexander T. Scheider, MD, and colleagues at the University of Cincinnati, say groups with the highest risk and frequency of stroke, such as people over 75 years old, blacks, and men, were the least knowledgeable about stroke warning signs and risk factors.
According to several national organizations, major warning signs of stroke include the following:
Factors that are known to increase a person's risk of suffering a stroke include:
Researchers found people most frequently cited television, magazines, and newspapers as their source of knowledge about stroke. But in light of these findings, the study researchers say, "Public education efforts must continue and should focus on groups at the highest risk of stroke."
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 15, 2003.
Stroke Risk Factors a Mystery to Most
But Public Knowledge of Warning Signs Growing
Jan. 14, 2003 -- Getting to the hospital as soon as possible after a stroke starts is key to warding off the potentially disabling effects. But a new survey shows that although people may know more about stroke warning signs than in the past, most people don't understand what actually increases the risk of having a stroke.
For the study, researchers surveyed about 2,000 residents of the greater Cincinnati area in 2000 and asked them to name at least three major warning signs and risk factors for stroke. Then the researchers compared their results to a similar survey conducted in 1995.
In 2000, 70% of the respondents were able to correctly name at least one established warning sign of stroke, compared with only 57% in 1995. But when it came to correctly naming at least one major risk factor, there was only a 4% increase in awareness from 1995 to 2000 (68% to 72%).
The results appear in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.
Study researcher Alexander T. Scheider, MD, and colleagues at the University of Cincinnati, say groups with the highest risk and frequency of stroke, such as people over 75 years old, blacks, and men, were the least knowledgeable about stroke warning signs and risk factors.
According to several national organizations, major warning signs of stroke include the following:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg -- especially on one side of the body,
- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech,
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes,
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination,
- Sudden, severe headache that comes on with no known cause.
Factors that are known to increase a person's risk of suffering a stroke include:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attack (also known as mini-stroke)
- Heavy alcohol use
- High cholesterol levels
Researchers found people most frequently cited television, magazines, and newspapers as their source of knowledge about stroke. But in light of these findings, the study researchers say, "Public education efforts must continue and should focus on groups at the highest risk of stroke."
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Jan. 15, 2003.
Source...