HJAR Mar/Apr 2025

42 MAR / APR 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ADH CORNER COLUMN ADH CORNER EVERY year, over 1,700 Arkansans die due to stroke, and thousands more suffer from stroke-related disabilities. Stroke is a medi- cal emergency that occurs when a blood vessel bringing oxygen to the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot, causing the brain to go without oxygen. Strokes affect the brain’s nerve cells, and the damage can be perma- nent because nerve cells that die during a stroke can’t be replaced. Getting treated as quickly as possibly is important because it can reduce the chances of permanent dis- ability or death. TheArkansas Department of Health (ADH) works with its partners to increase awareness Stroke Care in Arkansas of signs and symptoms of stroke through a public campaign promoting the acronym, BEFAST: B - Changes in balance and coordination. E - Changes in eyes and vision. F - Changes in facial appearance. A - Changes in the ability to raise both arms. S - Changes in speech. T - If these symptoms are present, timing is important. Call 911 immediately. Risk of stroke is influenced by multiple factors, including smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and dia- betes. The overall risk of stroke is greater for Black people, with 720 reported cases per 100,000 population in 2023, compared to White people with a rate of 524 per 100,000 population. Arkansas’ healthcare systems play a critical role in providing screening, treatment, and referrals for all patients to quit smoking, improve their diets, and take other steps to lower their risks. Arkansas has made important progress in reducing stroke mortality in the past 20 years. During the early 2000s, Arkansas ranked No. 1, with the highest stroke death rates in the nation. In 2005, theArkansas General Assem- bly took steps to address our high death rate by approvingAct 663, which established the