May is American Stroke Month, Americans urged to protect themselves from nation’s #4 killer

CHICAGO, IL — May is American Stroke Month and the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are urging people to learn the risk factors and warning signs for stroke. About 795,000 Americans experience a new or recurrent stroke each year — a stroke every 40 seconds or a related death every four minutes. Stroke is the No. 4 killer of Americans, and it is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.

American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke initiative is sponsored nationally by healthcare products leader Covidien, with a goal of raising public awareness about stroke and educating Americans that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable.

The campaign recently launched a free mobile app available at www.strokeassociation.org that helps people spot a stroke F.A.S.T., find hospitals in the area and call 9-1-1 immediately if they recognize any signs of stroke. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to help remember the signs of stroke and means:

Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?

Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.  Check the time so you will know when the first symptoms appeared.

Getting treatment for a stroke victim quickly is critical, as new drugs can actually reduce or halt the effects of stroke but only if administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms. However, most stroke patients wait an average of 22 hours before receiving treatment.  Part of the delay is a result of not recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of stroke. The sooner a stroke victim gets to the hospital, the quicker they can be evaluated, leading to faster lifesaving treatment. 

Like cardiac emergencies, most strokes occur at home.  That’s why the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, especially during the month of May, encourages everyone to learn the warning signs and symptoms of stroke and act F.A.S.T when they spot a stroke.

More information about stroke risk factors, information for caregivers and other resources are at www.strokeassociation.org.

 

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org   or call any of our offices around the country.