May is National Stroke Awareness Month

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"  ~ Benjamin Franklin

Writer: Ryan Allen

These words attributed to Benjamin Franklin still ring true today. Most of us have heard this saying — once, twice, maybe a dozen times or so during our lives — and through its repetition have come to heed its general message: prevention (and early detection) of illness is much more beneficial to our well being than treatment after the onset.

Hearing this adage time and again has caused it to enter our daily consciousness, our awareness, and we have learned. With hope of producing a similar result, the National Stroke Association, and the medical community at large, celebrates National Stroke Awareness month in May of each year, to create awareness about the risks, causes, prevention, and signs of stroke, and help us learn. After all, “Knowledge is power” (Francis Bacon said that one).

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Risk factors for stroke include old age, high blood pressure, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), diabetes, high cholesterol, tobacco smoking and atrial fibrillation. But here’s the good news: many of these risks are modifiable, and by modifying the risk, stroke can be preventable — but only if we are all aware of the risk factors of stroke in the first place.

On May 11, 1989, President George Bush signed Presidential Proclamation 5975 designating May as National Stroke Awareness Month at the urging of National Stroke Association. The National Stroke Association says raising stroke awareness is about:

• Elevating stroke in the mindset of everyone in the U.S. so more people care about
  supporting stroke research and education.
• Ensuring that everyone understands the emotional, physical and financial impacts
  that stroke has on our country.
• Influencing others to improve their health by sharing personal stories of how stroke
  has already affected the lives of so many.
• Talking to legislators and thought leaders about how their decisions can positively
  affect survivors throughout their recovery.
• Providing a platform for the more than 7 million survivors and their families to discuss
  their experiences and live with dignity. Stroke survivors possess the most influential and
  inspiring knowledge needed to make an impact on society. Their voices are so important.

Additionally, National Stroke Awareness Month is about elevating the recognition of stroke symptoms, which are numerous, varied, and may include nausea, weakness, balance problems, altered breathing and more. General warning signs can be easily remembered using the acronym F.A.S.T:

If you think a person might be having a stroke:

• Face – Ask them to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
• Arms – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arms drift downward?
• Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 9-11 immediately.

To learn more about stroke, stroke prevention and National Stroke Awareness Month, visit: the National Stroke Association website, Pharmacist Planning Services, Inc., and Wikipedia.

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