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Kanabec Hospital in Mora, MN

About 795,000 Americans will suffer a stroke this year, yet most Americans cannot identify stroke symptoms or risk factors. Many strokes – some studies indicate that up to 80 percent – can be prevented through risk factor management.  The month of May marks National Stroke Awareness Month annually and in keeping with this theme, Kanabec Hospital is placing an increased focus on education and awareness about stroke.

A stroke, sometimes called a “brain attack”, is when blood is prevented from flowing through the brain.  This can happen two ways:

·    A blood clot.  A clot can block blood from flowing through blood vessels in the brain.  This is the most common type of stroke and is called an ischemic stroke.
·    A hemorrhage.  When a blood vessel breaks, blood drains into other areas of the brain and does not get to the places it needs to go.  This type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke.  About 15% of strokes are hemorrhagic srokes.

Get help immediately if you recognize the warning signs and symptoms of stroke:
·    Sudden numbness or weakness in of the face, arm or leg (mainly on one side of the body).
·    Sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance.
·    Sudden confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech.
·    Sudden bad headache (worst headache in your life), with no known cause.

If you or your loved one experiences any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.

Did you know?

·     Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, on average.

·    Women are twice as likely to die from stroke than breast cancer annually.

·    There are many manageable risk factors for stroke, including: high blood pressure, weight control, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, atrial fibrillation and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Visit www.stroke.org/RISK for more information and downloadable fact sheets.

·    It’s important to understand stroke symptoms and response. Time is a very urgent factor when it comes to stroke. Emergency treatment may be available if a stroke is recognized fast and 9-1-1 is called. The faster a person having a stroke is taken to the hospital, the better chance of them receiving emergency treatment.

·    Use the F.A.S.T. test for learning to recognize and respond to symptoms

Learn to recognize a stroke because time lost is brain lost.

Act F.A.S.T.:

FACE:  Can the person smile normally?

ARMS:  Can he/she raise both arms equally?

SPEECH:  Can the person repeat a sentence without slurring?

TIME:  Call 911 right away if the person cannot pass the
F.A.S.T.

Prevention of stroke is the focus of our next Center Stage health event.  Please join us on Thursday, May 27th from 5-6 p.m. at Kanabec Hospital.  A noted stroke neurologist, Dr. Tarrel, from Abbott Northwestern Hospital will present information on the prevention and treatment of strokes.