Reducing stroke risk for older people in Pennsylvania begins with education and awareness.life

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It’s an important time to review the facts about stroke so that you can better understand the risks of you and your loved ones.

According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), about 795,000 people suffer from stroke each year, including thousands in Pennsylvania. The good news is that up to 80% of strokes are preventable, and if a stroke occurs, it can be treated and recovered if detected early.

Being smart about stroke is very important because time is a major factor in preventing disability and death. Understanding the symptoms and risk factors of a stroke can help you get help quickly and reduce your risk.

Stroke is an emergency medical treatment caused by a blockage of blood flow to the brain as a result of a blood clot or internal bleeding. Our brain needs a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients. When blood flow stops, brain cells begin to die in just a few minutes.

Related reading: Senate hopeful John Fetterman suffers from stroke

For this reason, stroke can have serious effects on many functions of the body, including speech, breathing, movement, cognition, and bladder control. Stroke reduces the mobility of more than half of stroke survivors over the age of 65. In fact, according to the National Institute on Aging, stroke causes more serious long-term disability than any other illness. Individuals who survive a stroke often require physical, verbal, occupational therapy and other medical care.

Older people are at increased risk of stroke. However, there are several ways you can help mitigate the risks, such as:

• Make exercise a part of your daily life. Many people are unaware that many Medicare Advantage health insurance offers fitness benefits. For example, United Healthcare’s Renew Active program offers free gym membership, personalized fitness plans, training videos, and group fitness classes. *
• Maintaining relationships with primary care providers is an important part of managing chronic illnesses such as high blood pressure that can cause stroke.
• Quitting smoking increases the risk of stroke, illness, and death. Talk to your health provider and health plan about the resources that may be available to help you quit.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables in addition to healthy foods low in cholesterol and saturated fats

If you know the signs and symptoms of a stroke and act quickly, it can mean life or death, severe disability, or a better quality of life difference. Seek medical attention immediately if any of these symptoms develop suddenly.

• Numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs — especially on one side of the body
• Confusion and problems when talking and understanding
• Problems seen with one or both eyes
• Dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or difficulty walking
• Severe headache of unknown cause

Every year, a stroke hits too many of us. Reducing the risk of this too often catastrophic condition begins with taking small steps to educate ourselves about stroke and improve our overall health.

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* Plans are insured through the Medicare Advantage Organization, which has a Medicare contract, the UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliates. [and a Medicare-approved Part D sponsor].. Registration for these plans depends on renewing your plan with Medicare.

It is provided as part of Renew Active®. Participation in the RenewActive program is voluntary. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program. Renew Active includes standard fitness membership. Renew Active programs and network sizes may vary by plan / area.

This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. Talk to your doctor before starting an exercise program or changing your lifestyle or health care routines.

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