May is Stroke Awareness Month. Know the Signs.

Kate Gawlik is a Bexley mom of four, nurse practitioner, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Undergraduate Health & Wellness Academic Programming at Ohio State University.

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the number three cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of long-term disability. Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies from stroke every 4 minutes. Approximately 795,000 Americans will have a stroke this year.

What is a stroke? A stroke occurs when there is inadequate blood flow to a localized area of the brain. Without blood flow, the brain cells die, rendering that area of the brain unable to communicate properly with the rest of the body. Symptoms of a stroke can vary depending on how much tissue is affected and in what area of the brain the stroke occurs.

Warning signs of a stroke include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech

• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

What are the risk factors for having a stroke?

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Smoking

• Diabetes

• High cholesterol

• An irregular heart beat or a condition called atrial fibrillation

How can you reduce your risk for having a stroke?

Exercise, eat healthy, and reduce your alcohol intake. If you smoke – quit. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, or high cholesterol, getting them under control – and keeping them under control – will greatly reduce your chances of having a stroke.