May Is National Stroke Awareness Month

National Stroke Awareness Month: Know the Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke  

 

Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and it’s the 4^th leading cause of death in the U.S. The aim of National Stroke Awareness Month is to make Americans aware that they may be able to save the life of a person experiencing a stroke, which may simply be by knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Although many people think of stroke as a condition that affects only older adults, strokes can and do occur in people of all ages. In fact, nearly a quarter of all strokes occur in people younger than age 65.

 

A stroke often leads to serious, life-changing complications that include:

·       Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body

·       Problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory

·       Problems understanding or forming speech

·       Difficulty controlling or expressing emotions

·       Numbness or strange sensations

·       Pain in the hands and feet

·       Depression

 

The good news is that there are ways you can help prevent a stroke from occurring.

 

Lowering your risk for a stroke

Demographic factors such as family history, age, sex, and race/ethnicity can all play a role in an individual’s stroke risk. Regardless of your background, however, there are several things you can do to lower your chances of having a stroke.

For example, cigarette smoking contributes to one in every five strokes in the United States. Smoking—and even exposure to second-hand smoke—can thicken the blood and make it more likely to clot. Thicker blood flow can lead to increased plaque buildup in your arteries and damage to the blood vessels leading to the brain, which can cause or worsen a stroke. So, quit smoking—or better yet, don’t start.

Other things you can do:

·      Know your ABCs of health:

A.  Appropriate Aspirin therapy:
Ask your doctor if taking aspirin is right for you

B.  Blood pressure control:
Keeping your blood pressure under control reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. More than half of the world’s stroke deaths are caused by elevated blood pressure levels

C.  Cholesterol management:
Get your cholesterol checked regularly and manage it with diet and physical activity or with medication, if needed

·       Smoking cessation:
Get help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW

·       Exercise regularly

·       Eat a healthy diet that’s low in sodium

·       Maintain a healthy weight

·       Prevent or control diabetes

·       Limit your alcohol intake
(fewer than two drinks per day for men, or one drink per day for women)

 

Recognize the signs of stroke

When responding to a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

call 9-1-1 immediately, if...

·       Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

·       Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding.

·       Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

·       Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.

·       Severe headache with no known cause.

 

Remember, getting immediate medical attention for stroke is crucial to preventing disability and death, so don’t delay—dial 9-1-1. More facts and information about strokes can be found at www.stroke.org and cdc.gov.

 

BLOG Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen