To coincide with stroke awareness month, a new report from the US Government’s Center for Disease and Control and Prevention has highlighted that less than half of people surveyed could identify the potentially life-saving early warning signs of stroke.
A stroke, known medically as a cerebrovascular accident, is where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted because of blockage or damage to an essential blood vessel.
It can be fatal, and more often leads to significant brain damage, but this can be limited or a life potentially saved if it is detected and treated as soon as possible.
The following are warning signs of stroke. If someone you know experiences any of these, call an ambulance or get them medical care as soon as possible.
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
To reduce your chances of having a stroke, you need to look after your cardiovascular health.
Essentially, healthy body, healthy brain – so alcohol, smoking, excess fatty food, little exercise and head injury will increase the chances of blood supply problems in the brain.
Link to CDC report on stroke awareness.
Link to write-up from Yahoo! News.
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