May is National Stroke Month

May is Stroke and High Blood Pressure Awareness Month


Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke — and if a stroke doesn’t kill, it may cause physical or mental disability. Stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 if you think you or someone you’re with is having a stroke.

strokeassociation.org for more information.



Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability.

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable; you can prevent a stroke!


What is a stroke?

A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.



Learn the many warning signs of a stroke. Act FAST and CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY at any sign of a stroke.



Use FAST to remember the warning signs:


FACE:
Ask the person to smile.
Does one side of the face droop?

ARMS:

Ask the person to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH:

Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.
Is their speech slurred or strange?

TIME:

If you observe any of these signs,
call 9-1-1 immediately.