Stroke Prevention

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.³ Although many are affected by stroke, a recent study revealed only 16.4 percent of respondents knew all five symptoms of a stroke, could identify an incorrect symptom of stroke, and recognized the need to call 911 in event of a stroke.⁴ In addition, the study revealed disparities by race/ethnicity, sex, and education level in knowledge about strokes.⁴

The Cost of Strokes
In 2008, the estimated direct and indirect costs of stroke is $65.5 billion.⁵ Direct costs (e.g., hospital, nursing home, and pharmacy spending) amounted to $43.7 billion. Indirect costs (e.g., lost productivity due to deaths) amounted to $21.8 billion.⁵ Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, keeping thousands of employees out of work.³

Stroke Prevention
There are measures an individual can take to reduce the probability of having a stroke including decreasing identified risk factors and making lifestyle changes. In order to avoid the costly physical, emotional and economic repercussions of a stroke, people should be familiar with both the risk factors and signs of a stroke, as health outcomes improve the sooner an employee reaches a hospital.

Risk Factors⁶

• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Tobacco Use
• Cholesterol levels
• Alcohol
• Genetic risk factors

The Five Signs of a Stroke¹

1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs
2. Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
5. Sudden severe headache

Employer Action
Employers can help employees prevent stroke in a number of ways:

• Promote healthy lifestyles.
• Provide smoking cessation benefits.
• Encourage the use of clinical preventive services.
• Provide employees with free educational materials about stroke, including:
  • Fact sheets on the risk factors and five signs of stroke
  • Brochures on stroke
  • Tips about talking to your doctor about stroke
• Consider offering risk reduction counseling for employees at high-risk for stroke.⁷
• Educate employees and beneficiaries about the relationship between alcohol and high blood pressure.

1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. What you need to know about stroke. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke_needtoknow.htm#signs. Accessed May 15, 2008.
2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS stroke information page. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm#Is_there_any_treatment. Accessed May 15, 2008.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke facts and statistics. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/stroke_facts.htm. Accessed May 15, 2008.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Awareness of stroke warning symptoms — 13 states and the District of Columbia, 2005. MMWR. 2008:57(18);481-485.
5. American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. Heart disease and stroke statistics - 2008 update, American Heart Association. Available at: http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1198257493273HS_Stats%202008.pdf. Accessed May 14, 2008.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Pevention. Stroke prevention. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/prevention.htm. Accessed May 15, 2008.
7. Matson-Koffman DM, Anwuri VA, Orenstein D, Shore K, Agin L, Garfinkel SA, et al. Heart-healthy and stroke-free: making the business case to employers and purchasers for preventing heart disease and stroke. Prev Chronic Dis. 2004. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2004/apr/03_0034l.htm. Accessed May 15, 2008.