May was declared National Stroke Awareness Month in 1989 and in the 32 years since then, a lot has changed for the better when it comes to stroke care. But still, according to the CDC, 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year and strokes remain the leading cause of serious long-term disability. However, strokes are preventable with the right steps and treatable if you can identify the signs quickly and seek emergency medical care. Reporter Cassidy Taylor shares this advice for National Stroke Awareness Month…
You can prevent or lower your chance of a stroke by maintaining a healthy weight and diet. You can also make sure you exercise regularly and limit alcohol, and definitely no smoking. The CDC also recommends keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure in check. If you have heart conditions, diabetes, or any other specific health problems, be sure to talk to your doctor about steps to take to prevent a stroke.
If you think you or someone you are with is having a stroke, remember to act F.A.S.T. That is, look at their face, does one side of the face drop? Ask them to raise both their arms, does one drift downward? For their speech, ask them to say a simple phrase, do they sound slurred or strange? And finally, remember the time. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 immediately. Time lost, is brain lost.
You can see more information on strokes by visiting the CDC’s website at: https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/index.htm
