Health
You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero
May is American Stroke Month, so we’re working with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to raise awareness about Stroke knowledge, prevention, and what to do in an emergency. Strokes are much more common than most people realize: A stroke happens here in the U.S. every 40 seconds. However there is good news – stroke is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability – and 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
You can be a Stroke Hero by controlling your blood pressure and other risk factors and by knowing F.A.S.T, the warning signs of stroke, so you'll know what to do and are prepared to help others know when and how to take action.
Only 9% of us can identify all the letters in the F.A.S.T. acronym for stroke. When you recognize a stroke and immediately call 9-1-1, the person has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options like a clot-busting drug or clot-removing device.
How to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. (the warning signs):
- F - Face Drooping - Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
- A - Arm Weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S - 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?
- T- 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.
Take the Quiz
If you know someone who could be at risk for a stroke, or even yourself – take the #StrokeHero quiz. It is fast, easy, and could save your life or the lives of people that you love.
While stroke threatens millions of lives, it is largely preventable, treatable and beatable. Together, we can end stroke.
Share this with your family, friends, co-workers and community by sharing on social media. You can share this post or tweet: You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero.
Live healthier and know the F.A.S.T. warning signs, visit the official American Stroke Association site to learn more.
FTC Disclosure: Content and images in this post provided by American Stroke Association and American Heart Association. However, this blogpost is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice by a qualified professional. See complete FTC Disclosure that appears at the bottom of MBE's home page and at the bottom of every individual post including this one.
