May is “National Stroke Awareness Month”

The National Stroke Awareness Month began in May, 1989 after President George H. W. Bush signed a Presidential Proclamation aimed at promoting public awareness of the signs and symptoms of strokes and reducing the number of incidences in the U.S.  The National Institute of Health (NIH) partners with the National Stroke Association, the American Heart Association and other non-profits to education Americans not only on warning signs but how to control risk factors to improve brain health. 

The NIH warns that “stroke is a leading cause of death & can happen to anyone.”  With over 800,000 incidences each year, it is also the leading cause of serious long-term disabilities. The majority of stokes occur in people over 65 and the risk more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.

The American Heart Association advises all American to know F.A.S.T., the warning signs of stroke as it may save a life.  They include:

Face Drooping

Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven or lopsided?

Arm Weakness

Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech

Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

Time to Call 9-1-1

If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Other warning signs include:

·         Sudden NUMBNESS or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body

·         Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech

·         Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes

·         Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

·         Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause 

The more we know about strokes, the better we are at controlling the associated risk factors.  As the leading cause of stroke is high blood pressure or hypertension, the American Stroke Association says it is also the “most significant controllable risk factor.”  They recommend knowing your numbers and following doctors’ advice to keep them low.  Quitting smoking also reduces your risk, and as Type 1 or 2 diabetes is another risk factor, you need to mitigate the danger by managing the disease.  Eating a diet of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, reducing your sodium intake, and avoiding foods high in saturated fat additionally helps to keep your heart healthy and reduces the risk for stroke.     

MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers the very best in senior living with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents.  Visit our website to set up a tour of the finest senior living Des Moines-West Des Moines offers.