May is Stroke Month

It’s May and you know what that means, it’s American Stroke Month. During May, the American Stroke Association (ASA) takes center stage to educate on stroke risk factors, how to identify a stroke, what happens to the brain after a stroke, how to prevent a second stroke and much more.

“One is Enough” is a mantra for the ASA and is a rallying cry for survivors across the country. Unfortunately, after suffering a stroke, about 1 in 4 survivors are at risk of another. Simply put this is too high! Fortunately, research has shown that up to 80% of second, clot-related strokes are preventable. By taking the necessary steps to prevent another stroke and educating ourselves on the warning signs, we can make a big difference and greatly reduce the frequency and health outcomes related to stroke. Please take a few moments to peruse the ASA’s Stroke Month website to find ways to lower your risk of stroke, prevent a second stroke and ways to engage on social media to help the ASA get the message out there and help reduce the frequency of stroke.

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to stroke is that you need to act “FAST.” For those that are not familiar with the “FAST” acronym, it relates to stroke warning signs. F is for face drooping, A is for arm weakness, S is for speech difficulty and T is the all important TIME TO CALL 911!

This May, the ASA is also providing resources and information on how stroke relates to the COVID-19 global pandemic. We encourage you to watch this Q+A video from stroke survivors and Dr. Mitch Elkind, American Heart Association president-elect, Chair of the Advisory Committee of the American Stroke Association. In the video, Dr. Elkind answers questions from stroke survivors about the COVID-19 pandemic - click the picture to watch!

While May is American Stroke Month, we know that a stroke can strike at any time. Taking the necessary steps to help prevent stroke throughout the year is critically important. To learn more and help share the life-saving information please visit the stroke month website today.