Statistics

Facts About Stroke
15 minutes could save lives

Strokes are often quick and deadly –know the facts

Dishes take about 15 minutes; walking the dog about 30; mowing the lawn about 40 and preparing the family meal, up to one hour.

But losing someone special in your life to a stroke only takes an instant.

Each year about 700,000 people have a stroke. About 500,000 are first-time attacks and 200,000 are recurrent attacks. Yet, a recent poll showed less than 42 percent of people in the U.S. know one of the five warning sign and only 39 percent said they will seek out information on stroke.

Stroke is the nation’s No. 3 killer and a leading cause of serious disability. It can strike anyone. Spend some time with the American Stroke Association to learn about stroke and save those in your life the most precious thing – time with you.

First, you can:

• Go with your loved ones to get their blood pressure checked. If it’s 140/90 mm Hg or higher, help get it under control.
• Get involved with Train To End Stroke, the American Stroke Association’s half- and full- marathon training program. You can complete a life-changing event on behalf of your family member while raising funds for stroke research.
• Logon to http://heart.grassroots.com/stroke/pleaseStopStroke and send an e-mail urging your senators and representative to support the STOP Stroke Act. This legislation would authorize a grant program to help states have access to quality stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services.
• Take the Learn and Live Quiz. Answering 15 questions will give you personalized results to help identify cardiovascular health concerns and provide immediate educational information via the Web or mail by visiting americanheart.org or calling 1-888-AHA-CARES.

Next, spend a minute or two learning the warning signs of stroke:

• 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.
  Finally, spend a few minutes learning if those you love are at risk for stroke. Ask yourself these questions:
• Do they have high blood pressure (14/90 mm Hg or higher)?
• Do they smoke?
• Are they overweight or obese?
• Do they get regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes on most or all days)?
• Does anyone have diabetes?
• Is there a family history of stroke?

Risk for stroke increases as people age, but high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high cholesterol levels and excessive drinking can be controlled or eliminated. Help your family take steps to control their risk factors.

In just fifteen minutes you have taken action against stroke, educated yourself on the stroke warning signs and identified your family’s risk factors. This small gift of time could make a huge difference in the years
to come.

Information provided by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. Visit strokeassociation.org or call 1-888-4-STROKE for more information. With stroke, time lost is brain lost.

Review our Resources area for more links and local information on brain stroke resources, and visit the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Developmental Disabilites Adminsitration website at: /www.ddamaryland.org/brainlinks.htm