Elderly Lack Knowledge of Stroke Signs, Risks
Thursday, September 2, 2010

Nurse.com

Researchers from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland report in a new study that older people have a poor understanding of the warning signs and risk factors of strokes. In a study of more than 2,000 older men and women that was published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, only 54% of participants recognized slurred speech as a stroke indicator. Fewer than half also knew dizziness, numbness, weakness, and headache were common stroke signals.

When asked to list common stroke risk factors, about 75% correctly listed high blood pressure. However, fewer than 40% identified high cholesterol and smoking, while about 10% knew alcohol use and diabetes were linked to strokes.

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