National Stroke Awareness Month

For those of you that don't know: I had a stroke last October.

I am VERY young (slightly exaggerated-but not by stroke victim factors). I have no side effects (now) as they have resolved. I live everyday, some days more easily than others, debating about how I want to live my life because I know if I have another stroke I COULD, potentially, have side effects. Maybe not be able to speak, so I must speak now while I can. As the time passes on I forget how powerfully this effected me. You move into the dailiness and forget that you almost lost your life. Crazy, but you can forget these lessons or they lose their effect. I pray I never forget how to lose my life.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
Luke 9:24

Read below for information to prevent strokes:

It’s the first full week of National Stroke Awareness Month—what better time to learn more about how to STOP stroke through improved management of stroke risk factors?

Whether you’ve suffered a stroke or not, stroke prevention is an important part of everyone’s stroke education. There are a number of "controllable" risk factors for stroke. Further, up to eighty percent of strokes can be prevented! Don’t you want to know more about how to make prevention a part of your daily life?*

Honor National Stroke Awareness Month by reading more about these six educational tips for reducing stroke risk (don’t forget to tell your friends and family, too!):

High blood pressure is the primary cause of stroke. Know the role that managing your blood pressure plays in lowering your stroke risk. Click here for more information about high blood pressure.

Cholesterol or plaque build-up in the arteries can block normal blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke. All adults age 20 and older should have their cholesterol checked at least once every five years. For more information about how to manage cholesterol, visit http://www.stroke.org/site/R?i=tlI9v7XsMfJvWztmW06a9A.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of irregular or “racing” heartbeat that can cause blood to collect in the heart and potentially form a clot, which can travel to a person’s brain and cause a stroke or brain attack. This condition increases a person’s risk for stroke by 500 percent. Unfortunately, many Americans who have AF don’t know it. Learn more about AF here and ask your doctor now about AF risk for you and your loved ones.

Diabetes can double or quadruple your risk for stroke. Talk to your doctor and learn how to manage your diabetes and stroke risk at the same time!

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a mini-stroke with stroke symptoms that last less than 24 hours before disappearing. More than one-third of all people who have a TIA will have a stroke. Learn more about TIA and how your risk level for stroke can be better managed.

Tobacco use, smoking and alcohol use increase your risk for stroke—consider quitting smoking or tobacco use and drinking alcohol moderately. Remember that alcohol can interact with some drugs. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you are currently taking.

For more information about stroke education or ways to spread awareness this May, visit http://www.stroke.org/site/R?i=pAc4wCHvAVxL2SNTnl8jWA.

P.S. Don’t forget that one of the easiest ways to spread awareness is to forward this educational e-mail onto your contacts. Do it today and help National Stroke Association make a big impact in reducing the incidence of stroke.

*National Stroke Association strongly recommends that people talk to their doctors about risk factor management plans.