It’s a bird….It’s a plane…Just kidding, it’s mom – and she is showering us with her super powers once again. You have all been there, right? Felt like you MUST be a superhero to make it through the day sometimes. Well, I am here to tell you that you are all superheroes at some point or another.
But today – I want you to see how you can be a superhero that can save lives. Yes, you! You can save lives. May is American Stroke Month, so I’m working with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to raise awareness about Stroke knowledge, prevention, and what to do in an emergency.
You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero. Get to know the F.A.S.T. warning signs Click To TweetAbout 800,000 people have a stroke every year and in the U.S. stroke is the No. 5 cause of death overall, killing nearly 130,000 people a year. Those are some pretty astounding numbers considering 80% of strokes are preventable and treatable.
Many Americans cannot identify the stroke warning signs, and most stroke survivors and family caregivers do not know where to go for stroke recovery information. This presents a great opportunity to work together to teach ourselves, friends, family, and coworkers, how to prevent a stroke, as well as how to recognize, respond to, and recover from a stroke. With your help, we can close the gap in stroke awareness and help save lives.
You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero
If you know someone who could be at risk for a stroke, or even yourself – take the #StrokeHero quiz. It is fast, easy, and could save your life or the lives of people that you love.
Take the time to know F.A.S.T, the warning signs of stroke, so you’re ready to take action and help others know when and how to take action! Only 9% of us can identify all the letters in the F.A.S.T. acronym for stroke. When you recognize a stroke and immediately call 9-1-1, the person has a greater chance of getting to an appropriate hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options like a clot-busting drug or clot-removing device.
How to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. (the warning signs):
- F – Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
- A – Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S – Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like: “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
- T- Time to call 9-1-1 – If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.
While stroke threatens millions of lives, it is can be preventable, treatable and beatable. Together, we can end stroke. Share this with your family, friends, co-workers and community by sharing on social media. You can share this post or tweet: You don’t need superpowers to be a #StrokeHero. Live healthier and know the F.A.S.T. warning signs – StrokeAssociation.org/StrokeHero
- The Heart/Brain Connection What’s good for your heart is also good for your brain. Learn which healthy habits are important for both.
- Food For Thought A heart-healthy diet is also good for your brain
- How Cardiovascular & Stroke Risks Relate Stroke and heart disease share many of the same risk factors.
- Controlling Risky Conditions Learn more about how many conditions contributing to the risk of stroke or recurrent stroke can be controlled.
- Hidden Risk Factors for WomenThis year, more than 100,000 U.S. women under age 65 will have a stroke.
My father had a stroke but did not show all the signs.
He is doing ok now.
Knowing the signs is so important.
It really is SO important. Most people do not realize until it is too late! I am glad to hear that he is doing okay. It can be such a difficult thing to go through.