Let Stroke Matter to You
May 1, 2023
What’s your concern or worry for stroke?
Do you know the symptoms or warning sighs of a stroke?
Are you at risk for stroke?
Despite the stroke epidemic, with over 91,000 women dying of stroke in 2004 (latest NHLBI data), women and men don’t seem concerned about this potential health risk. Too many women ignore the warning signs, delay seeking emergency medical attention, and suffer dramatic after-stroke effects: permanent disabilities such as inability to communicate, being unable to walk or live independently.
Be “Brain Smart” by first knowing your risk for having a stroke. The following risk factors increase your chance of having a stroke event.
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Atrial fibrillation
- History of TIAs (“mini-strokes”)
- Carotid Artery Disease or other Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Blood disorders
- High red blood cell count
- Sickle cell anemia
Make a point to talk with your healthcare provider about your stroke risk factors and together create a prevention plan.
Don’t let stroke take you by surprise. Know the warning signs.
Don’t let stroke take you by surprise. Know the warning signs.
- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm and 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
Seek immediate medical attention by calling 9-1-1 at the first sign of any of these symptoms. Don’t delay – seeking immediate medical attention is an important action that most will ignore. Let your brain and life have a fighting chance by seeking prompt medical attention.
Source: American Stroke Association