May is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to learn more about the sings and prevention for one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. The National Stroke Awareness Month is in its 34th year of commemoration, started by a proclamation of President George H.W. Bush.
In the U.S., someone dies of stroke every 3.5 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds, the CDC says.
Seniors and the elderly, along with aging adults in assisted living communities, can take advantage of the awareness around stroke to learn more about its causes and prevention. Organizations such as the CDC, the American Heart Association, World Stroke Campaign and others educate Americans, research strokes and treat people who suffer strokes around the world.
One of the best ways for seniors and the elderly to survive and recover from a stroke is to know the signs and symptoms. One of the most important things is to get to an emergency room with three hours of the first symptom. This means that patients typically have less disability after three months than patients who delayed care.
Stroke Prevention Tips
Preventing a stroke involves five important health tips, medical experts say. The five stroke prevention tips include:
—Control blood pressure and cholesterol by taking your prescribed medications.
—Manage other medical conditions that may lead to a stroke, including obesity and diabetes.
—Avoid smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Both of these increase your risk of a stroke.
—Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt and sugar. Make sure to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
—Increase your physical activity. This also helps you maintain a healthy weight that’s another safeguard against having a stroke.
Diagnosing a Stroke is FAST
There’s an easy way to diagnose a stroke, medical experts say. It’s “FAST.” Use the FAST acronym to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke and then react quickly.
- Face—Ask the person to smile. You can quickly see if one side of their face droops.
- Arm—Ask the person to raise both arms. If one drifts lower than the other, it may be a sign of a stroke.
- Speech—Slurred speech is another stroke symptom. Ask the person to repeat a single sentence.
- Time—Call 911 quickly. Time is often the difference between life and death and even partial or full recovery.
Both stroke prevention and stroke diagnosis are easy ways for you to reduce your risks of a stroke. When you consider how debilitating a stroke can be, especially for seniors and the elderly, take care of yourself and your loved ones by starting these good practices.
You can also ask your staff about healthy living.
Get To Know Auburn Hill Senior Living
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Let us make the experience enjoyable for you! We invite you to schedule a visit and come out to experience the Auburn Hill difference for yourself.