May is American Stroke Month
Did you know stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in the U.S.? Yet, studies show that Americans do not rank stroke as a leading health concern.
To combat this, the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have launched the 2014 American Stroke Month campaign to help increase awareness that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable.
The American Heart Association encourages people to use F.A.S.T. as an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you’ll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away. F.A.S.T. is:
- F: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
- A: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
- T: Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
Also, did you know high blood pressure is the leading modifiable stroke risk factor? Take the Stroke Risk Quiz during May to assess your risk of stroke.
To learn more about stroke awareness and American Stroke Month, please visit strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/.