Community urged to be aware of stroke symptoms

“I think that I should take the CMHS online StrokeAware Risk Assessment just to be sure.”

In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month in May, Community Memorial Health System encourages people to better understand the risk factors and symptoms of stroke, a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability in the United States. Not many people know that for stroke sufferers, the idea of life insurance is one worth looking into. For some people, having a stroke leaves them unable to function like they used to, which can eventually take a tole on the individual’s everyday life. You may soon realise that your medical bill is very high and you are unable to pay for it, even though you never asked for this condition. But on a positive note, by having a look into sites like https://www.moneyexpert.com/life-insurance/, it is made even more clear how life insurance can benefit anyone who has suffered from a condition like a stroke or may be struggling to get their finances together to pay for existing medical bills. There is always a solution for any problem. You’ll eventually start to get your life back together.

National Stroke Awareness Month each May seeks to educate people about stokes and how to prevent them. According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year. Leading a healthy lifestyle and lowering risk factors can help reduce the risk of a stroke. Eighty percent of strokes are preventable. Recognizing symptoms is critical to treating strokes and possibly preventing or reducing disability, said Stephanie Lara-Jenkins, RN, Stroke Coordinator at CMHS.

“Time is crucial in the treatment of a stroke because the earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater the chance of recovery,” she said. “We have the potential for reversing your stroke or mitigating your disability from a stroke if you get treatment right away.”

Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this happens, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.

Symptoms of stroke (sudden and sustained) are: numbness and/or weakness on one side of the body; numbness or weakness of an arm or leg; slurred speech, trouble speaking or the inability to speak; changes in vision including blurred vision, double vision or vision loss; dizziness and/or loss of coordination; and lightheadedness or feeling faint.

Stroke risk factors are: high blood pressure (see your doctor to control your blood pressure if it’s higher than 130 over 80); atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm); high cholesterol; heart disease; diabetes; smoking; heavy alcohol use; physical inactivity; obesity; a family history of stroke; and depression.

With this in mind, it is so important to find ways of managing stress. Relaxing and exploring new ways of coping with your problems can help to lower high blood pressure. One solution to combat stress that everyone seems to be talking about nowadays is CBD oil. So, does cbd oil lower blood pressure? Well, there is research to suggest that the stress and anxiety-reducing properties of CBD products can indeed lower your blood pressure. If natural remedies like this interest you, be sure to do plenty of research into the potential health-boosting benefits of CBD for more information.

CMHS offers a free, confidential online StrokeAware Risk Assessment for those seeking to determine their risk. This free online tool takes about seven minutes to complete. The StrokeAware assessment will provide participants with a personalized risk assessment report written by a CMH nurse practitioner that will help them learn about their risk and identify any medical or lifestyle factors that may cause a stroke. The StrokeAware Risk Assessment can be taken by visiting https://ha.healthawareservices.com/ra/survey/766.