The month of May is recognized as American Stroke Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asserts stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and the fourth leading cause of death in women alone. Likewise, it has been reported that African-American women have an increased risk of having a stroke more than any other group of women in the United States.

According to the American Heart Association, a stroke may occur when there is a lack of blood flow or oxygen to an area of the brain which can result in damage and/or death of brain tissues. Precursors to stroke may include having high blood pressure, eating a diet high in sodium, obesity, and having certain comorbidities. Therefore, committing to live a healthier lifestyle must be our primary focus as reports also indicate we can reduce the incidence of having a stroke by more than 50% if we proactively take the following steps:

• Improve our diet (enjoy a diet that is low in sodium, saturated fats and cholesterol)
• Increase our activity (aerobic exercise “moderate walking” at least 2.5 hours weekly)
• Quit smoking (smoking directly increases one’s risk for stroke)
• Know our family history (know your genetic health history)
• Take our health seriously (get routine checkups)
• Age gracefully (as we get older our risks may increase also)
• Manage comorbidities (prior stroke or TIA, high BP, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and sickle cell disease should be managed collaboratively with our primary care provider)

Symptoms of a stroke should be taken seriously as it’s an urgent matter. Immediately call 911 and/or get to nearest Emergency Department if you or someone you know experience the following symptoms:

• numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body
• trouble speaking or understanding speech
• confusion
• slurring speech
• drooping smile
• vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision
• trouble walking
• loss of balance or coordination
• dizziness
• severe, sudden headache with an unknown cause

Tips for Success:

1. Know the risk factors of stroke.
2. Share your knowledge related to stroke with others; knowledge is power.
3. Look ahead… forget about those old habits that do not promote health and wellness; and pick up new healthy habits, such as “reviewing and sampling healthy recipes; and start walking/exercising.”
4. Commit to improving how you view and manage your health so you can sustain the new life change.

Contributor: Dr. Karen Jackson

DNP, MSN, NEA-BC

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