National Public Health Week, Message 5: Stroke Awareness
Posted on: April 5, 2024 - 9:01am
- Each year 795,000 American citizens experience a stroke.
- The risk of death is 16% higher for patients that live in rural areas.
- Up to 80% of strokes are preventable.
- On a global scale, stroke is the second leading cause of death.
Getting treatment for a stroke is time critical. Call 9-1-1 right away if you or someone near you shows signs of these symptoms – it could save a life.
Symptoms of stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
May is Stroke Awareness Month. Look for additional information about stroke awareness and prevention from the Harvard Board of Health, the Harvard Ambulance Service and the Council on Aging over the next two months.