Thousands of Americans are affected by stroke each year. Every 40 seconds someone in the United States experiences a stroke. Every 4 minutes, someone dies from stroke. With numbers like this, it is easy to understand why medical professionals are advocating for more stroke awareness. The right stroke education can greatly reduce the number of strokes experienced each year. It can also help you live a healthier life without the fear that a stroke can strike you at any moment. You may have already heard that May is American Stroke Month and are wondering why health care professionals would devote a whole month to educating the community on stroke. The answer is simple. Studies have shown 80% of strokes may be preventable. With over 800,000 people experience a stroke each year, an 80% reduction would be a huge help in reducing the amount of hospital expenses and health …show more content…
If you’re having a stroke you must get medical attention immediately. If you’ve identified a stroke using F-A-S-T, call 911. If you’re having a stroke and are unable to speak, ask anyone nearby to make the call for you. Remember, it’s crucial that you get treatment within the first 3 hours of your first stroke symptom. Make sure you note the time of the first symptom. Many stroke treatments are time sensitive. By keeping track of the start of a stroke, you can give the emergency staff the opportunity to make more informed decisions about treatment options. If you think you are having a stroke, do not take any medication. For some specific kind of strokes called Ischemic strokes, taking an aspirin can be dangerous. Stay safe by avoiding any medication until the emergency staff can identify what type of stroke you are experiencing. Strokes can also affect a person’s ability to swallow so avoid giving anyone who may be having a stroke food or drinks. You don’t want to cause anyone to accidentally choke while having a stroke. How Can I Prevent A