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Stroke Awareness
An estimated 700,000 persons in the United States will have a stroke this year. 23% of those will die and nearly 30% of the survivors will be permanently disabled.
A stroke, or brain attack, occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or a broken blood vessel. This lack of oxygen kills brain cells in the immediate area, often causing physical and emotional disabilities including speech problems, memory loss and paralysis.
The five major warning signs of stroke are:
- sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
- sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
- sudden, severe headache with no known cause
If any of the above symptoms occurs, immediate medical care is suggested by calling 911, to prevent death or disability. Stroke are preventable, but remain the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of adult disability.
The two primary types of risk factors are those that are controllable and those that are not.
Uncontrollable stroke risk factors include being over age 55, being male, being African-American, having diabetes and having a family history of stroke.
Some controllable risk factors for stroke are medical disorders that may be treated with medication or surgery. These conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, a personal history of stroke, and atrial fibrillation - an irregular heartbeat which allows blood to pool in the heart and can lead to blood clots.
It is never too late to start taking action to lower your stroke risk. The National Stroke Association worked with some of the nation's leading experts on stroke to develop the following Stroke Prevention Guidelines:
- Know your blood pressure. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to control it.
- Find out if you have atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. If you do, work with your doctor to manage it.
- If you smoke, stop.
- If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
- Know your cholesterol number. If it is high, work with your doctor to control it.
- If you are diabetic, follow your doctor's recommendations to manage it.
- Include exercise in your daily routine.
- Enjoy a lower sodium, lower fat diet.
- Find out if you have circulation problems. If you do, work with your doctor to control them.
- If you have any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
National Stroke Association is an independent, national non-profit organization devoting 100 percent of its resources to reducing the incidence and impact of stroke. For more information on stroke and stroke prevention, visit www.stroke.org or call 1-800-STROKES.
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