May is National Stroke Awareness Month in the USA. When you have a stroke, every second is critical, and rapid treatment can lead to a full recovery instead of permanent disability.
Up to 2 million brain cells die every second that a stroke is not treated. To increase the likelihood of a full recovery and prevent disability or death, learn to recognize the symptoms of stroke. Using the acronym FAST makes it easier:
- face drooping
- arm weakness
- speech difficulty
- time to call 911
In truth, stroke is the 5th leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. More than 795,000 people will have a stroke annually and an average of one person dies every four minutes. While anyone is susceptible any age, the good news is that 80% of strokes are preventable.
According to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, these are some recommended lifestyle changes that could help you to prevent a stroke:
- Manage your blood pressure
- Control your cholesterol levels
- Reduce your blood sugar
- Be active
- Eat better
- Lose weight
- Stop smoking
Above all, remember that the faster a stroke is treated, the more likely you are to fully recover. To achieve an optimal outcome, a patient should be treated within the first 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms. Subsequently, if ongoing treatment with an anticoagulant such as warfarin is required, consider monitoring PT/INR using a Coag-Sense® PT/INR Monitoring System, the only portable device using Direct Clot Technology which measures actual clot time.
