You Can Take a Strike against Stroke

Stroke is our nation's third leading cause of death, killing nearly 160,000 Americans every year and it is the largest single cause of neurologic crippling in our nation. The statistics related to stroke are indeed staggering and the concern of having a stroke is among the most feared health problems by Americans. But what is a stroke? What causes a stroke? What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Stroke is a brain attack caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. A stroke may be caused by: a gradual narrowing and eventual blockage of a brain or neck artery, usually from build-up of cholesterol; a blockage of a brain or neck artery by a clot formed elsewhere in the body that traveled to the brain; or a rupture of an artery in the brain caused by an aneurysm or a congenital malformation.

Help yourself and help others! Know the five common stroke symptoms. Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble seeing with one or both eyes Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden severe headache

Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life threatening health problems. Knowing your risk factors for stroke and following the prevention guidelines will help reduce the risk of stroke.

Knowing your risk factors is important! The two primary types of risk factors for stroke are those controllable and those that are not. Uncontrollable risk factors are age, gender, race, family history, or diabetes. Remember having one or more uncontrollable risk factors does not make a person fated to have a stroke. Controllable risk factors are treatable medical conditions that increase the risk of stroke, including: high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, personal history of stroke or TIA. Proper attention to controllable stroke risk factors can help decrease the impact of uncontrollable risk factors and decrease your risk of stroke.

Follow the Stroke Prevention Guidelines
National Stroke Association's (NSA) Prevention Advisory Board released its Stroke Prevention Guidelines, the first-ever national expert consensus set of recommendations on what the public can do to prevent the third leading cause of death in the United States. The public is encouraged to seek their physicians' advice and assistance with implementation of the guidelines.

1. Know your blood pressure, Have it checked at least annually. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep it under control.
2. Find out if you have atrial fibrillation.
3. If you smoke, stop.
4. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
5. Find out if you have high cholesterol.
6. If you're a diabetic, follow your doctors recommendation to control your diabetes.
7. Include exercise in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine.
8. Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet.
9. Ask your doctor if you have circulation problems which increase your risk of stroke.
10. If you experience any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.

For additional information on the Stroke Prevention Guidelines, please contact National Stroke Association at 1-800-STROKES (1-800-787-6537).

Contact the National Business Coalition on Health Healthsmart website for additional information.