May is Stroke Awareness Month and we are here to help educate the public on strokes and what to look out for.
What is a stroke?**
A stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the 5th leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it and brain cells die.
What are the types of stroke?**
Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (called an ischemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (called a hemorrhagic stroke). A TIA (transient ischemic attack), or “mini stroke”, is caused by a temporary clot.
Risk Factors That Can Be Managed**
Fact: 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
You can control or treat these risk factors with lifestyle changes and your healthcare provider’s help:
- High blood pressure
- Smoking
- High blood cholesterol
- Lack of regular activity
- Obesity or overweight
- Diabetes
What are the symptoms of a stroke?**
Stroke Statistics**
To learn more, please visit the American Stroke Association’s website at www.stroke.org.
**“About Stroke.” Www.stroke.org, 2022, https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke.