May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Did you know that:

1. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S.
2. That 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer from strokes each year
3. Stroke kill an estimated 133,000 Americans each year
4. There are over 6 million stroke survivors living in the U.S.
5. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds
6. Up to 80% of strokes are preventable through risk factor management

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, which is a great opportunity to raise awareness about how prevalent strokes are, how preventable they can be, and how imperative it is to seek treatment immediately if you suspect you or someone nearby is having one.

Here are the most common symptoms of stroke:

1. Sudden and severe headache
2. Trouble see in one or both eyes
3. Sudden dizziness and trouble walking
4. Sudden confusion and trouble talking
5. Sudden numbness and/or weakness in arm, leg or face

Risk factors- try to control these to the extent you can:

1. Being a smoker
2. High blood pressure
3. Irregular heartbeat
4. High cholesterol
5. Diabetes
6. Not drinking in moderation

Time is of the essence in treating a stroke; if you seek treatment immediately (call 911), you can often prevent death and/or minimize the damage caused by a stroke.  For more information about strokes and stroke awareness and prevention, click here:  http://www.stroke.org