Healthier Hawaii: Stroke Awareness Month

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Time is critical when someone is having a stroke — every minute, 1.9 million brain cells die. For Stroke Awareness Month, Hawai‘i Pacific Health stroke medical director Dr. Joseph Kipta explains what a stroke is, who’s most at risk, and the warning signs everyone should know.

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A stroke happens when the brain’s blood supply is blocked or when there is bleeding in the brain, cutting off the oxygen and energy brain cells need to function. Because different areas of the brain control different abilities, a stroke can affect vision, speech, movement, balance, and more — and symptoms can look different from person to person.

Dr. Kipta says several health conditions can raise the risk of stroke, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and sleep apnea. He also warns that smoking acts as an accelerant, speeding up plaque buildup in arteries and increasing the likelihood of a stroke sooner.

Getting help immediately can be lifesaving. Hawai‘i Pacific Health has protocols and treatments that can potentially reverse a stroke, but they work best when patients arrive within about 3 to 4.5 hours after symptoms begin. “If you wait longer than that,” Dr. Kipta explains, “all we can really do at that point is try to prevent you from having another stroke in the future.”

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To recognize symptoms quickly, doctors use the mnemonic BE FAST:

If you suspect a stroke, Dr. Kipta urges people to call 911 rather than drive. While it may feel faster to get in a car, paramedics can bypass traffic, alert the hospital ahead of time, and get patients to the facility best equipped to provide urgent stroke care.

Stroke Awareness Month is a reminder that knowing the signs — and acting fast — can protect the brain and save a life.

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