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:
- 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. - Stroke is an old person’s worry.
False. Nearly a third of strokes occur in people under age 65 - 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. - Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability.
True. It’s also the third leading cause of death. - 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. - 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.