It's never too early to start healthy lifestyle habits that can lessen
or eliminate the chance of a serious disease or illness, such as stroke.
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, stopping tobacco use/smoking, and keeping
an eye on that blood pressure are always a good ideas in the quest for
a healthier, better you. Especially since stroke is the fifth leading
cause of death in the United States, killing about 130,000 people each
year and a leading cause of serious, long-term adult disability.
But a stroke can happen at any time, regardless of age, race or sex, so
recognizing the signs and symptoms can save lives and limit disabilities.
Because stroke is and emergency, know the signs and symptoms so you can
BE FAST to get medical attention by knowing common signs and symptoms including:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one
side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
What to do? Use the
"BE FAST" test:
B - Balance Sudden loss of balance
E - Eye Sudden vision change
F - Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A - Arm Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift?
S - Speech Ask the person to repeat a single sentence. Is the speech slurred?
T - Time Call 9-1-1 if you observe these signs. Time is brain.
The Golden Hour: Act in Time Act Fast To Save a Life!
The
Golden Hour message is simple: If someone is experiencing symptoms of a heart attack
or stroke, CALL 9-1-1 and get to a hospital within one hour. Acting in
time – within the first Golden Hour after symptoms begin –
greatly reduces the risk of damage to the heart or brain and greatly improves
the chance of recovery.
Did You Know? ... The three hospitals of Excela Health - Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland
- have been designated as
Primary Stroke Centers by The Joint Commission and recognized by the Pennsylvania Department
of Health for exceeding national standards for quality patient care. Did
you also know that these three Excela Health facilities are the ONLY ones
in Westmoreland County to have earned this designation? To earn accreditation
as a Primary Stroke Center, Excela Health hospitals have demonstrated
proficiency in the prevention and early management of stroke and transient
ischemic attack (TIA) symptoms based on guidelines established by the
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for health care
professionals.
While some risk factors, such as age and family history, are out of our
control, we can take charge of others through healthy lifestyle changes.
To help prevent stroke:
Maintain a healthy weight
Limit alcohol
Exercise
Control blood pressure
Eat a healthy diet
Treat atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
Quit smoking
Treat diabetes
Risk factors include:
Age
Gender
Race
Family history of stroke
Controllable Risk Factors:
High blood pressure
Smoking
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Obesity
Physical inactivity
If you have a risk factor, it doesn't mean you will have a stroke. But
your risk grows if you develop further factors or the severity of them
increases. So, take control of your life by learning about the risk factors
and, as always, talking with your doctor.
Life after stroke can be difficult. Getting you healthy and getting you
home, equipped with the skills you need to deal with your daily life safely
and efficiently: that’s what we aim for at
EPIC Rehab, the Excela Physical Improvement Center.
Join us for education, resources, and support through our Stroke Support Group.
Click here for details.
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