STROKE AWARENESS MONTH : What are the risk factors?
Do you know, May is Stroke Awareness Month across the country. As per the American Stroke Association , stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States. CentraCare Health says people need to act FAST at the first signs of a stroke. FAST means look for facial weakness, arm weakness, speech difficulties, and T is for Time to call 911. Around 130,000 people are killed each year and around 795,000 people have a new or recurrent stroke each year. Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes. The resulting damage can lead to significant disability including paralysis, speech problems, and emotional difficulties. Early warning signs The acronym FAST can help a person to remember the mos...
