Did you know that stroke affects four out of five people – either you or someone you know?  Check your knowledge about this life-threatening event.

Knowing these surprising facts could save your life or the life of someone you love.  True or false:

1. Stroke is also know as a “brain attack”.
   True. Greater awareness of heart attack symptoms has helped lower the number of premature deaths from heart attack.  Experts sometimes refer to stroke as a “brain attack” in the hope that people will regard it with the same urgency as a heart attack.
2. Stroke is an old person’s worry.
   False. Nearly a third of strokes occur in people under age 65
3. There are ways to tell if someone’s having a stroke.
   True. Symptoms may include weakness, numbness or paralysis on one side of the face, arm or leg; sudden blurred or decreased vision; difficulty speaking or understanding simple statements; dizziness; sudden severe, unexplainable headache.
4. Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability.
   True. It’s also the third leading cause of death.
5. Once a stroke starts, it can’t be stopped.
   False. Emergency medical help may include a clot-busting drug that works if given during the first three hours of an attack.  Quick action is most important.
6. You can’t prevent stroke.
   False. The National Stroke Association says 80 percent of strokes are preventable.  Some factors that can help lower your risk: Keep your blood pressure under control (nearly one third of people with high blood pressure don’t know they have it), keep your cholesterol in check, know whether you have an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation and quit smoking.

Can’t sleep because of back pain?  Try this trick from the American Physical Therapy Association: Lie on your back with a pillow under your head and neck and a small pillow under your knees.  This can help keep your spine naturally aligned so you feel less pain and sleep more soundly.

Osteoporosis, the thinning of bones, is known as a silent disease.  But there are certain signs that you may be at greater risk.  Here’s what to watch for.

1. You’re small-boned and/or underweight.  Low body weight and a slight build mean your bones may be thin too.
2. You have persistent back pain.  A constant backache may mean you have a spinal fracture, one of the symptoms of osteoporosis.
3. You’re getting shorter. Although a natural result of aging, loss of height can also be a sign of spinal fracture.
4. You’ve broken a bone.  Fractures occur more easily in weak, thinning bones.
5. You use corticosteroids.  These medications can cause rapid bone loss that can lead to osteoporosis.  Other drugs can thin your bones too, so always ask your health care provider about side effects.
6. You smoke.  Smoking doubles your risk of suffering a fracture caused by thinning bones.
7. You can’t drink milk. People who are lactose intolerant may not get enough calcium, but may be able to tolerate reduced-fat cheese and yogurt.  You might also try lactose-free milk or take a calcium supplement.

If any of these warning signs apply to you or you’re at all concerned, speak to your health care provider about bone density testing.  Taking precautions now could help prevent disability and even save you from a life-threatening broken bone in the future.