National Stroke Awareness Month

HealthWatch for May 2009
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In the U.S., stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability.  A stroke or “brain attack” occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain.  When either of these events occurs, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.  When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost.  These abilities include speech, movement and memory.  How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

If someone is having a stroke, time is of the utmost importance.  Two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke, thus increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Recognizing symptoms and acting fast can potentially save a life and limit disabilities.

This simple test will help you detect stroke symptoms and act F.A.S.T.:

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARM Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest
stroke center or hospital.
Source: National Stroke Association

For more resources and information on stroke click on these links below.

Local and State
Cleveland Clinic: Understanding Stroke
University Hospitals: Stroke Warning Signs
Summa Health System: Stroke Facts
Akron General Medical Center: Stroke/Brain Attack
Ohio Department of Health (ODH): Stroke

National
National Stroke Association
American Stroke Association
National Stroke Association: Talk about TIA
American Heart Association (AHA): Stroke Journal
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Stroke
National Library of Medicine (NLM)/National Institute of Health (NIH): Stroke