May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Did you know that every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke?
Every stroke and TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack, aka “mini-stroke”) is a medical emergency. If you know the warning signs of a stroke and act FAST, you could save a life. FAST is the acronym for noticing the major warning signs of a stroke and taking action:
Face Drooping – one side of the face is drooping or numb. Ask the person to smile and look for this sign.
Arm Weakness – The arm is weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms to the side. One arm may drift down.
Speech Difficulty – The speech may be slurred or difficult to understand. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, such as “the sky is blue”.
Time to call 9-1-1 if any of these signs are present.
More than 40% of Americans cannot recall the major warning signs of a stroke. If you are one of them, now is the time to commit them to memory! Recognizing these signs could save a life because every moment counts when someone is having a stroke. Unfortunately, emergency rooms across the country are reporting declines in the number of non-coronavirus patients they are seeing, and doctors are worried that coronavirus fears are keeping patients from calling 9-1-1 when they need help. A stroke is not something to “tough out” at home. Recognize a stroke for what it is – a medical emergency – and encourage friends, family members and love ones to seek help when needed.
To prevent strokes from happening in the first place, make healthy lifestyle choices – like eating nutritious food and getting enough physical activity– and encourage friends, family members and loved ones to do the same. The CDC estimates that up to 80% of strokes are preventable. If you have suffered a stroke, making healthy lifestyle changes is still worth the effort, as they can help prevent future potentially more serious strokes from taking place.
A healthier you starts with change. Change starts with you. What changes will you make to become a healthier you? Take action today to avoid falling victim to a stroke, and commit the FAST acronym to memory to help save the lives of others.
Written by: Loretta Sweeney, Senior Series Program Assistant, OSU Extension Franklin County
Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County
SOURCES:
November 28, 2021
Act FAST, Save a Life | Live Healthy Live Well
maximios Blog
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Did you know that every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke?
Every stroke and TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack, aka “mini-stroke”) is a medical emergency. If you know the warning signs of a stroke and act FAST, you could save a life. FAST is the acronym for noticing the major warning signs of a stroke and taking action:
Face Drooping – one side of the face is drooping or numb. Ask the person to smile and look for this sign.
Arm Weakness – The arm is weak or numb. Ask the person to raise both arms to the side. One arm may drift down.
Speech Difficulty – The speech may be slurred or difficult to understand. Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase, such as “the sky is blue”.
Time to call 9-1-1 if any of these signs are present.
More than 40% of Americans cannot recall the major warning signs of a stroke. If you are one of them, now is the time to commit them to memory! Recognizing these signs could save a life because every moment counts when someone is having a stroke. Unfortunately, emergency rooms across the country are reporting declines in the number of non-coronavirus patients they are seeing, and doctors are worried that coronavirus fears are keeping patients from calling 9-1-1 when they need help. A stroke is not something to “tough out” at home. Recognize a stroke for what it is – a medical emergency – and encourage friends, family members and love ones to seek help when needed.
To prevent strokes from happening in the first place, make healthy lifestyle choices – like eating nutritious food and getting enough physical activity– and encourage friends, family members and loved ones to do the same. The CDC estimates that up to 80% of strokes are preventable. If you have suffered a stroke, making healthy lifestyle changes is still worth the effort, as they can help prevent future potentially more serious strokes from taking place.
A healthier you starts with change. Change starts with you. What changes will you make to become a healthier you? Take action today to avoid falling victim to a stroke, and commit the FAST acronym to memory to help save the lives of others.
Written by: Loretta Sweeney, Senior Series Program Assistant, OSU Extension Franklin County
Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County
SOURCES: