The Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, as part of World Stroke Day, would like to remind everyone of the symptoms of a stroke.
Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. The American Stroke Association says globally 1 in 4 adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. According to World Stroke Day’s website, every two seconds someone has a stroke. The symptoms of a stroke are:
- Facial weakness (one side is drooping)
- Arm weakness (person cannot raise their arms)
- Slurred speech and difficulty speaking
If you see someone experiencing these symptoms, it is Time to act now and call 911 for emergency services.
Every minute a stroke goes untreated, brain cells can die. A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is suddenly blocked. Without blood, brain cells stop working and can die. The damage can affect a person’s ability to walk, move, speak and manage everyday tasks. In fact, 2 in 3 stroke survivors experience long-term complications or disabilities. Fast treatment can save brain cells and reduce the risk of long-term damage.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. There are risk factors to having high blood pressure, including:
- Cigarette smoking/exposure to secondhand smoke
- Diabetes
- Being overweight
- High cholesterol
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet (high in sodium, low in potassium, and drinking too much alcohol)
- Family history
- Race/ethnicity
- Increasing age
- Gender
- Chronic kidney disease
- Obstructive sleep apnea
If you have risk factors for high blood pressure, talk to your healthcare provider about the best ways to reduce these risks.
For more information on stroke, visit www.stroke.org/