Healthy Heart

from Austin Medical Times

by Rick Delarosa

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Healthy Heart

Nearly One in Three Young Adults In The U.S. Does Not Know Common Stroke Symptoms

By American Heart Association

At a time when stroke is on the rise among young adults, nearly 30% of U.S. adults younger than age 45 do not know all five of the most common stroke symptoms, according to research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. May is National Stroke Awareness Month and stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. Each year, 10% to 15% of the nearly 795,000 people in the U.S. who have a stroke are young adults — between ages 18 and 45. Recent studies suggest stroke incidence is declining in the general population, yet stroke incidence and hospitalizations have increased by more than 40% in young adults in the

past several decades. “While the medical community has made significant improvements to reduce the severity and complications of strokes with early interventions, these efforts are of limited value if patients do not recognize stroke symptoms,” said study author Khurram Nasir, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., chief of the division of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas. “Time is critical for treating stroke. The earlier people recognize symptoms, the better their chances are to reduce long-term disability from stroke.” To assess how well the U.S. population understands common stroke symptoms, Nasir and colleagues reviewed responses to the 2017 National Health Interview Survey. As part of the annual survey, adults are asked several questions about stroke including identifying five of the most common stroke symptoms, which in this survey were noted as: • • Numbness of face/arm/leg; • Confusion/trouble speaking; • Difficulty walking/dizziness/loss of balance; • Trouble seeing in one/both eyes; and • Severe headache. The researchers found: • Almost one in three respondents were not aware of all five common stroke symptoms. • About 3% of respondents, representing nearly 3 million young adults, were not aware of any stroke symptom. The researchers also found that nearly 3% of young adults surveyed would not contact emergency medical services if they did see someone experiencing perceived stroke symptoms. “That finding could be a

matter of life and death,” said Mitchell S. V. Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, FAAN, president of the American Heart Association. “With proper, timely medical attention, stroke is largely treatable. The faster you are treated, the more likely you are to minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death,” said Elkind. Elkind says the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association advocates the use of the letters in “F.A.S.T.” to spot stroke signs and to know when to call 9-1-1: • Face drooping • Arm weakness • Speech slurred • Time to call 9-1-1 Nasir said F.A.S.T. is among a number of creative and community-engaged initiatives that have aimed to increase public recognition of common stroke symptoms.

Recent Nursing Graduate Joins U.S. Navy Nurse Corps

Class of August 2020 College Of Nursing Graduate Earns National Defense Service Medal and Begins Nurse Residency Program at U.S. Naval Medical Center

By Kala McCain

Lacy Failla, BSN, RN, knew she wanted to challenge herself after graduating in August 2020 from the Texas A&M University College of Nursing. Applying to join the United States Navy Nurse Corps provided an opportunity to do just that.

“I have lived in the College Station area my whole life close to family, and although I loved every bit of it and it will always be my home, I wanted to challenge myself and be more independent for a little while,” Failla said. “I looked into several ways to do that, and knew it would be a great honor to serve in the military, and provide quality health care to the men and women who serve our country as well as their families.”

The U.S. Navy Nurse Candidate Program offers graduates an avenue to serve on active duty for at least four years. In return, they receive a stipend that helps offset the investment made to earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree.

After her acceptance into the competitive program, Failla completed five weeks of didactic classroom instruction, sexual assault prevention and response training, officer etiquette and a 50-yard swim qualification. She also underwent intense simulation training aboard the USS Buttercup where she worked alongside classmates conducting damage control procedures to prevent ship compartment flooding and fire suppression training wearing total encapsulated Level-A Hazmat suits.

Failla joined 78 fellow graduating naval officers at the U.S. Navy Officer Development School – Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, to receive the National Defense Service Medal. Failla has now started her six-month long nurse residency program at the U.S. Naval Medical Center in San Deigo, California, where she is preparing to become a nurse on the Perinatal Specialty Care Unit. She will complete a 12-week orientation and ultimately provide care to critical antepartum patients on this specialized mother/ baby unit.

When asked by Lt. Col. (ret) LeRoy Marklund, DNP, MPH, RN, CNS, CCRN, CEN, CNRN, clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Nursing, how her initial U.S. Navy Nurse Corps training went, Failla replied with a smile. “I was hesitant at first about leaving home and reporting for the U.S. Navy Officer Development School in Rhode Island, but I soon realized as I ventured through military training that serving with my fellow shipmates was the most honored moment in my life.”