Stroke Awareness Month is commemorated annually in the United States during the second month of May each year. National Stroke Awareness Month has been created to raise public awareness and decrease the number of stroke-related fatalities in the United States. Each year, thousands of people are victims of stroke and thousands more are left struggling with life-threatening neurological injuries.
A stroke happens when blood flow is stopped to a part of the brain called the arteriovenous system. This is necessary for the transportation of oxygen-rich blood and nutrients throughout the body. With this blockage, nutrients and other substances are not able to reach the brain where they are needed. This is the main cause of stroke-related deaths, especially for people over the age of 65. Strokes affect about one out of every 40 seconds in the United States and every five strokes that occur every minute are recorded as a death related to cardiovascular disease.
As we all know, one of the leading causes of death in the United States is heart disease. Stroke is ranked as the fourth leading cause of death in America, so it is no wonder that this health issue receives so much attention and focus. On average, someone who develops a stroke will experience at least four months of difficulty walking and only one out of every ten individuals who are stricken with this condition will survive. So, stroke does not only impact one out of every ten people but also one out of every forty-one people. Knowing these statistics, it becomes clear that stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in the United States.
Stroke is a leading cause of impairment and disability among adults and should be considered a leading cause of mortality. It has been determined that most patients with a history of stroke die from other causes. This is due to the fact that they did not take high blood pressure or cholesterol medication prior to their stroke and because those medications often have detrimental side effects. Also, studies have shown that a patient’s lifestyle has a big impact on the development of stroke risk factors, such as obesity, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, high blood pressure, and a diet that is low in vegetables and fruits.
A large part of preventing strokes is through being aware of warning signs. There are certain warning signs that can indicate that a person may be at risk for a stroke. The National Institute of Health has developed a website called stroke prevention. This website offers tips on how to prevent the development of these problems and more.
Stroke awareness is the number one way to prevent death and disability from cardiovascular problems in the United states. Over one million people in the united states are diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease each year, and these numbers are increasing. In addition, many people do not even know they could be at risk until they actually have a stroke. Stroke risk is shown to be associated with a lower body mass index, poor nutrition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyles, diabetes, and poor exercise. Being aware of the risks and symptoms early in life can make a big difference in the amount of time that someone has to live with their condition.
