May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Information provided by the National Stroke Association (www.stroke.org)

National Stroke Awareness Month takes place in May every year. In honor of this special time, the National Stroke Association strives to provide everyone with the tools and inspiration to raise public awareness about stroke by hosting awareness events or activities. It doesn’t matter if you are an individual or a large corporation, because the more people we reach, the better.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in America, but many people do not realize how educating themselves and others will help reduce the incidence of stroke. We urge you to specifically educate others about how to:

STOP stroke through risk factor management.

• Act F.A.S.T. to increase recognition of and response to stroke symptoms.
• Spread HOPE about recovery from stroke.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. and do this simple test:

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 sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

Time:              If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.

What are the symptoms of stroke? Stroke Symptoms include: 

SUDDEN numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body.

SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

SUDDEN trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you have any of these symptoms. Note the time you experienced your first symptom. This information is important to your healthcare provider and can affect treatment decisions.

 If you have experienced any of these symptoms, you may have had a TIA or mini-stroke. 

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is an event, sometimes called a mini-stroke, with stroke symptoms that lasts less than 24 hours before disappearing. While TIAs generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are a serious warning sign of stroke and should not be ignored!

Up to 40 percent of all people who have experienced a TIA will go on to have an actual stroke. Most studies show that nearly half of all strokes occur within the first 2 days after a TIA. In fact:

•  Within 2 days after a TIA, 5 percent of people will have a stroke.
• Within 3 months after a TIA, 10 to 15 percent of people will have a stroke.

 The symptoms of a TIA and stroke are basically the same. Someone having a TIA or stroke may experience one or more of these symptoms: Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body; Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

 If you have any of these symptoms or see them in someone else, even for a short time, call 911 or have someone take you to the hospital immediately. Treatment can be more helpful if given quickly. Stroke strikes FAST. You should too!

What causes a TIA? Blood vessels carry blood throughout the body. When a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked for a short period of time, the blood flow to that area of the brain slows or stops. This lack of blood (and oxygen) often leads to temporary symptoms such as slurred speech or blurry vision.

TIAs are usually caused by one of three things:

Low blood flow at a narrow part of a major artery carrying blood to the brain, such as the carotid artery

A blood clot in another part of the body (such as the heart) breaks off, travels to the brain, and blocks a blood vessel in the brain

Narrowing of the smaller blood vessel in the brain, blocking blood flow for a short period of time; usually caused by plaque (a fatty substance) build up

How can TIA be managed?The goal of TIA management is to prevent a future stroke. The medicine and therapy used depends on the exact cause of the TIA. In addition to lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise, your doctor may recommend drugs to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease. These changes may reduce your risk of further TIA or stroke.

There are many medicines that help prevent blood clots from forming, reducing the risk of full-blown stroke.

If a TIA is caused by blockage in the main artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain, called the carotid artery, surgeries may be required to open the artery and prevent a stroke. These procedures are known as endarterectomy and stenting.

Talk to a doctor about the best stroke prevention options for you. Then take responsibility and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. The lifestyle adjustments — such as eating healthy foods and quitting smoking — made today may reduce the risk of stroke tomorrow.

For more information about strokes and TIA, visit www.stroke.org.

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