National Stroke Awareness Month
Seconds Matter, How to Recognize a Stroke
Chapa-De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley
National Stroke Awareness Month is observed in May and this is the perfect time to learn the warning signs of stroke and how to reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Sadly, strokes are very common. Over 130,000 people die from strokes each year in the U.S. They can also leave severe effects on stroke survivors for the rest of their lives. Many of us know someone who has had a stroke, but we may not know the causes or symptoms.
What causes a stroke?
A stroke can be triggered by different issues involving the brain.
An ischemic stroke can be caused by a blood clot blocking blood flow from your body to your brain. A hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in your brain bursts and affects the parts of your brain around it.
Not taking care of our bodies can put us at a higher risk for a stroke. Unhealthy habits like drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes increases the chances of having a stroke. Obesity, high blood pressure and taking pills that cause blood thinning also increase our risk.
What are the symptoms?
- Slurring of speech
- Numbness in limbs and face
- Loss of movement
- Loss of vision
- Click HERE to learn more about stroke symptoms
If you see these symptoms, the American Stroke Association and Chapa-De urge you to act FAST. These four letters stand for:
- F – Face drooping
- A – Arm weakness
- S – Speech difficulty
- T – Time to call 911
How can you prevent a stroke?
Your daily routine and diet is an important part of reducing your risk of a stroke.
- Eat more healthy foods and limit your alcohol intake. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and limit fast food and other foods with unhealthy fat content as much as possible.
- Make yourself a priority and find time in your day to be active – pick a walk over a TV show or build breaks into your workday to get up and away from your desk. Go for a run, lift weights, dance, whatever works for you!
- Speak with your Chapa-De medical provider for a personalized assessment and recommendation.
While strokes are more common in adults over the age of 50, everyone can be at risk. We want to work with you to make healthy choices and changes that will improve your health and overall wellbeing – while also reducing your risk of stroke. And don’t forget to act FAST if you ever see signs of a stroke.
For more information visit Chapa-De.org or call (530) 887-2800 for Auburn or (530) 477-8545 for Grass Valley.
Stroke.org
StrokeAssociation.org
StrokeCenter.org
MayoClinic.org
CDC.gov
National Stroke Awareness Month
Seconds Matter, How to Recognize a Stroke
Chapa-De Indian Health Auburn Grass Valley
PASSIONATE PEOPLE. COMPASSIONATE CARE.
Chapa-De provides medical care, dental care, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy services and much more.
Serving all American Indian, Low Income and Limited Income Community
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Chapa-De Indian Healthcare Auburn Grass Valley