Did you know: Strokes are the fourth leading cause of death in men?
Yet, many men are unable to name a single symptom or take precautions against becoming susceptible to strokes themselves. Strokes can range from mild to severe, and they are frighteningly common. One stroke happens every 40 seconds in America. That means 795,000 Americans suffer from a new or recurrent stroke. Once someone suffers a stroke,they are more susceptible to having another one in the future.
So it’s time we educate ourselves on the symptoms of strokes and how to prevent them.
May is American Stroke Month and we are happy to partner with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Ad Council to bring our community of men important facts about what to do in the face of a stroke emergency. For more info on preventing strokes, download MHN’s free brochure, Heartbeat.
You need to act F.A.S.T.
F.A.S.T is an acronym that is used to recognize a stroke.
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.
Calling 9-1-1 is key. A person has a greater chance of getting to the hospital quickly and being assessed for treatment options (such as clot-busting drugs and other medical devices). Downloading the F.A.S.T. app for your smartphone assures that you are prepared in case of an emergency. But most of all, knowing the warning signs of a stroke is crucial to saving lives.
