May is Stroke Month
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PrintDid you know that May is National Stroke Awareness Month? Well if you didn’t, I am making you aware that it is. Why should we talk about stroke on the heart blog? Those are two different things right? No, they are not. The things that cause heart disease are the same things that cause vascular disease. Stroke is a vascular disease and we need to work on preventing it.
Through recognition and management of risk factors, lifestyle changes and compliance with recurrent stroke prevention treatments, up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. That is fabulous news! We can prevent stroke!
Let’s review what we need to do.
Know your numbers and control the following:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol
- Weight
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Diabetes
- Atrial fibrillation
- TIA (transient ischemic attack)
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America. It is also a major cause of severe, long-term disability. Let’s try to prevent this terrible disease from hurting you, your family or your friends. It can happen to anyone with the risk being greater if you are over the age of 55.
Watch for the signs of TIAs (warning strokes) before a major stroke occurs:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg (on one side of the body)
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
For more information on stroke see these links:
www.stroke.org
www.strokeassociation.org
www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm
