May is National Stroke Awareness month.
Did you know that strokes are the leading cause of disability in adults? It is also the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. For every hour you suffer from a stroke, you lose 120 million neurons and age your brain 3.6 years.
There is an easy-to-remember acronym to use to recognize the symptoms of a stroke:
BE FAST.
B- Balance- Is there a loss of balance?
E- Eyes- Are there any visual changes in one or both eyes?
F- Face- Any facial weakness, drooping or uneven smile?
A- Arms- Any arm numbness or weakness?
S- Speech- Any slurred speech, difficulty speaking or understanding?
T- Time- Time to call 911 and get to the nearest hospital immediately!
There is a medication that can reduce the effects of stroke if administered within 3 hours of the onset of symptoms. Every second matters when a stroke strikes, so get to a medical facility as quickly as possible.
To reduce your chance of a stroke, you need to maintain an active lifestyle, maintain a normal BMI, quit smoking and eat healthy. Keeping diabetes under control along with blood pressure, cholesterol and atrial fibrillation help prevent your chance of a stroke.
Visit our blog for more Stroke Awareness information throughout the month.