Be ready to act on signs of stroke

To the editor:

Many of us know someone that has had or has been affected by someone that has had a stroke, because one in four Americans will experience a stroke in some capacity.

No matter the severity, strokes can have life-long impacts, including disability and even death. It is important to educate yourself about signs and symptoms of a stroke to prepare for a time of action when it is absolutely necessary. To be prepared for the signs and symptoms of a stroke, remember to “be fast”:

•Balance loss

•Eyesight loss

•Facial drooping

•Arm weakness

•Speech difficulty

•Time to call 911

Those are the primary signs of a stroke, but others may include confusion, difficulty understanding, dizziness, loss of balance, numbness, severe headache, trouble walking, vision changes and weakness. Please note that these symptoms or a combination of them are not unique to a stroke, but if they are sudden and out of the ordinary, they may indicate a stroke and require immediate attention. 

A stroke can happen to anyone at any time, but there are a number of risk factors for stroke that you can manage. These risk factors include:

•High blood pressure

•Atrial fibrillation (A-fib)

•High cholesterol

•Smoking

•Diabetes

•Poor circulation

•Lack of physical activity

•Obesity

By educating yourself and others about the risk factors and symptoms of a stroke, you may be able to prevent further damage to the individual's mind and body.

Help spread stroke awareness and empower others to take action.

Sydney Haines

Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition tobacco prevention coordinator