   |
  |
Health Tips, Coastlines
What You Need to Know About Strokes
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain, resulting in damaged brain tissue. High blood pressure is the number one reason that you might have a stroke. The risk of stroke is also increased by age, family history of stroke, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot. Within minutes, the nerve cells in that area of the brain are damaged, and they may die within a few hours. As a result, the part of the body controlled by the damaged section of the brain cannot function properly.
Symptoms of a stroke include sudden onset of:
* Numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg, typically on one side of the body.
* Vision problems in one or both eyes, such as dimness, blurring, double vision, or loss of vision.
* Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
* Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
* Severe headache.
If you suspect someone is having a stroke, do the following 3 things: Ask the person to SMILE. If only one side of the mouth can smile, this is a symptom. Ask the person to RAISE THEIR ARMS. If they can only raise one arm, this is a symptom. Ask the person to SAY THEIR NAME. Listen for slurred speech. If the person demonstrates any or all of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Note the time that the symptoms began; this is crucial in providing medical treatment to a stroke victim.
Stroke accounts for 1 out of every 15 deaths in the United States, and is the leading cause of disability in adults. Risk doubles with each decade after age 35.
As a community service, the Emerald Coast Health Alliance provides free medication cards so you can write down all the medications you take. The card has plenty of space, folds to the size of a credit card, and can be easily kept in your wallet. For your free medication card, call 862-8904, and we’ll send you one.
Jacki Taylor
Executive Director
Emerald Coast Health Alliance, an Independent Practice Association that serves the community through a multi-specialty network of 165 quality healthcare providers, conveniently located in Okaloosa and Walton counties.