Do not be a victim

What is a Stroke A stroke is the result of injury to brain tissue from lack of oxygen A stroke occurs when blood flow to the cells of the brain is interrupted Blood flow is interrupted by a rupture of either a small or large vessel, narrowing of a vessel or by the lodging of a clot in a vessel that occludes the blood flow

Who is at risk? Everyone is at risk Some persons have higher risk than others

Risk Factors High blood pressure Heart and vessel disease Smoking Diabetes Sedentary Lifestyle Heredity Obesity

What dose a stroke look like Sudden weakness or numbness on one or both sides of the body Dizziness Difficulty walking Difficulty talking Vision problems Can become unresponsive or have seizures

How do you know if it is a stroke You don’t, if you think it, then take them to the closest emergency room The national stroke association recommends that you use the acronym FAST F-Face ask the person to smile A- Arm ask the person to raise there arms S- Speech ask them to speak T-Time Call 911 immediately

Why people do not seek treatment They do not recognize the symptoms Denial They think nothing can be done They worry about the cost They think the symptoms will go away Fear Mistrust of hospitals and doctors

How do you survive a stroke Depends on location of injury to the brain Immediate medical attention within 6 hours of onset of symptoms increase your chances of survival and reduces the risk of permanent deficits.

What can I do to prevent a stroke Regular visits to your doctor for screening Exercise and a healthy diet Pharmacological therapies o Heart disease, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure Manage your Diabetes Quit Smoking Be aware of medications that increase your risk for blood clots

Death rates among persons 65 years of age and over

Stroke Recovery 10% of stroke victims recover almost completely 25% continue to have minor impairments 40% experience moderate to severe impairments requiring special care 10% require long term care 15% do not survive

Most Important thing to Remember If you think you are having a stroke call or have someone call 911 If you think you are witnessing someone else having a stroke call 911 Immediate medical attention can improve recovery and reduce the chance of permanent damage.