May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Almost six years ago, I was picking up my aunt on Sunday afternoon and trying to get things done. Something didn’t feel completely right when I arrived.

I just hung up with her about 15 minutes before letting her know I was on the way, but I sent her a text to let her know that I was on the driveway with my three young children. At that time she didn’t come out. ..

I thought she was taking a shower and waited for a while. I called her this time. Again, there is no answer. At that time, I was worried more, so I decided to get out of the car and look into the window on the way to the front door.

I couldn’t believe what I saw. Her aunt in her mid-60s lay on the ground in the middle of her living room and seemed immobile. She immediately called 911 because she went inside. They showed me how to best support her until her doctor arrived. As I approached, her eyes were open and she was trying to lift her head off the floor. She had lost the full function of the rest of her body. She was determined to have had a stroke.

Less than a year later, she moved to ProLiant Valley to get closer to her family. And she had a lot of fun. I loved the easy access to spend time with her, but that day in 2016, her fun stopped tremendously. Her aunt couldn’t get her speech back, so she couldn’t have a two-way conversation again. The rest of her time she spent in her room until 2017 when she died of other complications.

This month is National Stroke Awareness Month, and according to the National PACE Association, the goal of this year’s campaign is to reduce the risk of stroke and take people behind the scenes of what happens when someone experiences a stroke. Is to help.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are many ways to participate in this month’s awareness-raising surrounding the major causes of death in the United States. Stroke is also a major cause of severe disability in adults.

Some of the guidance provided focuses on prevention, such as step-by-step challenges to stop stroke, aimed at promoting regular physical activity that can reduce the risk of stroke.

There are other ways you can take action and commit to making changes to improve your stroke risk factors. They include eating a diet low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. If you drink alcohol, take it moderately. Stop using tobacco.

Overall, choosing a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk of stroke in the same way that unhealthy choices increase your risk of stroke. Ideally, you should discuss lifestyle changes with your healthcare team.

According to the CDC, taking action in a timely manner makes all the difference in effective treatment, as the most effective stroke treatment is available only if the stroke is recognized within 3 hours of the first symptom. Means. If stroke patients do not arrive at the hospital in time, effective treatment options may be limited.

According to the American Stroke Association, signs of stroke that should be noted for both men and women include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, speaking problems, or difficulty understanding how to speak. Sudden problems from one or both eyes; sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or lack of coordination; sudden severe headache of unknown cause.

If you or someone experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. It is important to note the time when the symptoms first appeared. In case of symptoms, the CDC recommends that you do not drive yourself to the hospital and have someone else drive instead, or call 911 to call an ambulance so that you can drive the ambulance along the way. ..

Sharing these helpful tips with friends and family during the National Stroke Awareness Month can help you save lives.

For more information

National PACE Association: www.npaonline.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.govhttp://www.cdc.gov