WPSU’s Health Minute is a collaboration with Penn State’s College of Nursing.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of severe disability. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time. To recognize the signs, remember the acronym F.A.S.T.:
- F: Is there facial drooping?
- A: Is there arm weakness or downward drift?
- S: Are there speech difficulties?
- T: “Time is brain.”
Strokes are treatable if they’re caught quickly. If someone is having a stroke, call 911.
80% of strokes may be preventable. The American Stroke Association recommends managing blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, reducing blood sugar, eating healthy, staying physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, and quitting smoking.
For more information, visit stroke.org.
For all our episodes, visit wpsu.org/healthminute.
