Understanding Stroke Its A Brain Attack Be Stroke

Understanding Stroke It’s A Brain Attack!

Be Stroke Smart The 3 R’s of Stroke Reduce Risk for Stroke Recognize Symptoms of a Stroke Respond - Call 911 when you see someone having a stroke

What is a Stroke ? Lack of blood flow to the brain caused by a clot or rupture of a blood vessel Sudden brain damage • Ischemic – Most common – Caused by a clot Embolic • Hemorrhagic –Bleeding around brain –Bleeding into brain Thrombotic

Brain Attack! • Stroke happens in the brain not in the heart. • Stroke is an emergency. Call 911 if you see someone having a stroke.

Famous People Who Had Strokes Charles Dickens Author of “A Christmas Carol” Kirk Douglas Actor President Ford President 1974 -1977 Luther Vandross Singer Della Reese Actress Charles Schultz Creator of Charlie Brown Dick Clark Host of Rockin’ New Years Eve Ted Williams Boston Red Sox Baseball player

Stroke Facts in America • Third leading cause of death in the United States • 750, 000 Americans have strokes each year • 160, 000 people die from stroke each year • 6, 000 stroke survivors

Stroke Facts in America • Stroke is preventable • Stroke can disable adults • Every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke

Stroke Symptoms Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body Sudden severe headache with no known cause Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes If you see someone having any of these symptoms call 911! Every minute counts!

The Perceptions of Stroke MYTH REALITY • Stroke is not preventable • Many strokes are preventable • Stroke cannot be treated • Stroke only strikes the elderly • Stroke happens in the heart • Stroke recovery ends after 6 months • Stroke can be treated • Anyone can have a stroke • Stroke is a “Brain Attack” • Stroke recovery can last a lifetime

Many strokes are preventable! NSA developed these guidelines to help YOU and YOUR FAMILY reduce YOUR risk for stroke. . .

National Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Guidelines 1. Tell your mom, dad, aunts, uncles and grandparents to know their blood pressure. They should have it checked at least once a year. If their blood pressure is high, ask them to work with their doctor to control it. 2. Find out if you or a family member has atrial fibrillation, when your heart feels like it is racing. 3. If you have a family member that smokes, ask him or her to stop.

National Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Guidelines (continued) 4. If you have a family member that has high cholesterol, ask him or her to work with their doctor to control it. 6. If you or a family member are diabetic, ask your family member to follow the doctor’s recommendations carefully to control their diabetes.

National Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Guidelines (continued) 7. Include exercise, like football and cheerleading, in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine. 8. Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet. 9. If you experience any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention. Call 911!

Reduce the Impact of Stroke • Stroke is a Brain Attack! – Preventable and treatable • 3 R’s of Stroke – Reduce Risk – Recognize Stroke Symptoms – Respond immediately by calling 911

National Stroke Association Reducing, Teaching and Advancing Stroke Care • Reducing the Incidence and Impact of Stroke • Teaching People About Stroke • Teaching Doctors and Nurses About Stroke • Advancing Stroke Research • Teaching Stroke Survivors and the people that take care of them about Stroke

Now go to www. stroke. org to find more fun games, contests, and ways to learn about stroke with National Stroke Association