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. The acronym FAST makes it easier to remember:
- face drooping
- arm weakness
- speech difficulty
- time to call 911
Statistically, 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, here 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. Ideally the patient should be treated within the first 90 minutes of the onset of symptoms for an optimal outcome. 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.
