Stroke Awareness Month

Dick Clark

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Thank goodness there are specific awareness months to highlight the various diseases as its purpose is to alert us to make a change. However, our health does not wait time for an awareness month to come along before something may occur. There are internal processes going on as we go about our daily lives. All it takes is for a blood clot to block or plug a blood vessel or artery in the brain or a blood vessel in the brain breaks and bleeds into the brain. Strokes are open to all - males, females to the very young and old. A major stroke may be fatal. In some cases, one can become paralyzed, losing the ability to speak or walk. A stroke patient may be placed in the care of a rehabilitation facility and have follow up therapy.


Beau Biden

Symptoms

Symptoms of a stroke may occur suddenly and includes the following:

• severe headache with no known cause
• trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech

It is important to get to the hospital as soon as now!!!!

Risks

Are you at risk?

• a high cholesterol level
• smoking
• diabetes
• a heart disease
• high blood pressure

Prevention

You may be able to prevent or reduce your chances of having a stroke by the following:

• know your cholesterol level get checked
• quit smoking
• eat healthy
• exercise
• keep a track of your blood pressure level


Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Ask questions? Discuss your concerns and get a thorough check up. It's all about your health and wellness - be informed.