Tuesday Tips for Caregivers – May is National Stroke Awareness Month

Hello and welcome. Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. In 2008 alone, more than 133,000 Americans died from stroke – or one person every four minutes – died from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Although many people think of stroke as a condition that affects only older adults, strokes can and do occur in people of all ages. In fact, nearly a quarter of all strokes occur in people younger than age 65.

Each year, almost 800,000 strokes occur in the United States. Strokes often lead to serious, life-changing complications that include:

Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body.
Problems with thinking, awareness, attention, learning, judgment, and memory.
Problems understanding or forming speech.
Difficulty controlling or expressing emotions.
Numbness or strange sensations.
Pain in the hands and feet.
Depression.

Recognizing the Signs of Stroke

When responding to a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding.
Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.
Severe headache with no known cause.