May is Stoke Awareness Month - Learn the Signs of a Stroke

May is Stroke Awareness Month. INDEAL Cares is committed to supporting you in living well and reducing your risk. Click here for details on stroke risk factors you can control, treat, and improve, courtesy of American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association.

It's also important to know the signs when someone is having a stroke, so that you can act. Why? When it comes to stroke, every second counts. Rapid access to medical treatment often makes the difference between full recovery and permanent disability. Nearly 2 million brain cells die each minute a stroke remains untreated.

Quick stroke treatment saves lives. Know the signs of a stroke and act F.A.S.T.:

Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven or lopsided?

Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.

Time to Call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Don't Die of Doubt

When an emergency strikes, hospitals are still the safest place – even during a pandemic. Call 911 at the first sign of a heart attack or stroke.

The Facts:

• Stroke can happen to anyone at any age.

• 80% of all strokes are preventable.

• Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of severe disability.

• On average, one person dies from stroke every 4 minutes.

• More than 795,000 people have a stroke each year in the U.S.

• Stroke kills almost 130,000 of the 800,000 Americans who die of cardiovascular disease each year—that’s 1 out of every 19 deaths from all causes.

Learn more about the signs, symptoms, and risk factors for stroke here.

Access additional supports on how you can live well by referencing the INDEAL Cares Living Well Library here.

#DiseasePrevention#ActiveLiving