Stroke Awareness Month

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Why is this important? Stroke is the number 5 cause of death in  and it is the leading cause of disability in the United States (source: American Stroke Association). I have been told many, many times that I am too young to have had a stroke. I asked my neurologist about this and she told me, “anyone with a brain can have a stroke.”

However, stroke and the long term damages of stroke can be preventable. If you suspect that someone is having a stroke, just remember the acronym F.A.S.T:

In stroke time lost is brain lost. These however important are also just guidelines. not everyone will experience symptoms the same way.  Another important symptom is a thunderclap headache.  This was what I had experienced. I’ve had migraines for most of my life, but this headache was much worse than that. It felt like I had someone was using a jackhammer behind my eyes.

There are many ways to prevent stroke weight management and smoking cessation are on top of the list. The American Heart Association provides a comprehensive list of risk factors related to stroke.

If you think that you or someone you love is experiencing a stroke, Make sure to let the paramedics know. This way they can get to the nearest stroke comprehensive hospital in your area. They can also inform the hospital that they have a stroke patient arriving and be prepared with the medication and equipment  needed to help the patient.