May is Stroke Awareness Month

Every 45 seconds, someone in the US experiences a stroke. Yet, despite being the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in this country, fewer than one in five Americans can recognize a symptom of a stroke. In addition, some people still believe that this condition is simply a "stroke of fate," not realizing that stroke is preventable and treatable.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month and the National Stroke Association is urging people to take charge of their health by knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke, asking their doctors about stroke prevention, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems, provided that you pay proper attention to lifestyle and medical risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Furthermore, treatment exists to help minimize the effects of a stroke; however, it must be given within the first three hours of the first symptom. So, it is important for people to be able to recognize the symptoms of stroke and seek emergency medical attention. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you learn to act F.A.S.T.
F = Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face drop?
A = Arm Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Ask that person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = Time If you observe any of these signs, then it is time to call emergency services personnel.
Studies show that stroke patients who arrive at the hospital by ambulance receive quicker treatment than those that arrive by their own means. But where are the best hospitals to go for the treatment of stroke? There are numerous hospitals across the country that have been certified as stroke centers and specialize in the treatment of stroke. To find a stroke center in your area, please visit www.stroke.org and clock on the emergency stroke center locations or call 1-800-STROKES.
-Tri-County Health Department