Charlotte woman shares stroke story on National Stroke Awareness Day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - On National Stroke Awareness Day, doctors say stroke is not only a disease of older people, but more younger adults are having strokes.

Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds, according to the script’s reference to the American Heart Association, which says that equals nearly 800,000 people a year.

Lindsey Kerr is a mom, wife, realtor and athlete. A few years ago, she was playing tennis with friends when she suffered a stroke. She was 41.

“I felt myself going to the ground. It was a weird sensation. I was not able to communicate well or walk well,” Kerr said.

The stroke was not Kerr’s first 20 years earlier she suffered a mini stroke.

“I got a little confused, went home, actually pumped gas in my car to gas station, was a little confused, drove home, had roommates and was trying to communicate with them and I just went to bed,” Kerr said.

Testing after the most recent stroke showed Kerr had a silent heart attack.

“It was revealed that I have a fully blocked LAD, old scar tissue in my heart. I had a heart attack previously and they did not know when,” Kerr said.

Kerr said doctors believe her blood has a tendency to clot. She is on blood thinners for the rest of her life.

Kerr said she agreed to be interviewed so people understand that people who are not typical candidates can have strokes and heart attacks.

“I have perfect cholesterol. I don’t have any plaque buildup. So I think it’s very important to know the signs of a stroke and for everyone to listen to their body,” Kerr said.

The American Heart Association says knowing the signs of a stroke can make a difference. The warning signs are not limited to a drooping face or slurred speech.

“A lot of people know the terminology fast, but we’re encouraging folks to understand the words be fast because new things are occurring like balance loss and eye vision. So if you’re losing your sight or something like that, could be a case of you having a stroke,” said Star of the American Heart Association.

BE FAST stands for Balance, Eyes, Face, Arms, Speech and Time. People who notice sudden stroke symptoms should call 911 immediately and not wait to see if the symptoms go away.

Kerr is still living an active life.