The Month Of May Serves As National Stroke Awareness Month
The month of May is designated as American Stroke Month. Spearheaded by the American Stroke Association (ASA), together with the American Heart Association (AHA), this important awareness month was initiated to bring attention to a medical condition that affects millions of Americans each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a stroke occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The CDC reports that approximately 800,000 people have a stroke in the United States each year. Of this number, nearly 130,000 people are killed, making stroke the fifth leading cause of death in the country. The American Heart Association also reports stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, with over one-third of stroke survivors experiencing post-stroke conditions. These long-term effects are often debilitating and can disrupt a survivor’s ability to speak, walk or participate in other everyday life activities.
There are several factors such as age and medical history that can affect a person’s ability to recover after a stroke, but one of the most important considerations is how quickly a person is able to receive medical treatment following the onset of a stroke. Recognizing that every second counts, the ASA and AHA jointly developed an educational tool known as the F.A.S.T. program to raise awareness about the early warning signs and symptoms of a stroke. The F.A.S.T. program is an acronym used to identify when a stroke is occurring and what actions one should take. F.A.S.T. stands for the following:
• Face Dropping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
• Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the Person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
• Time to call 9-1-1 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.
It is important to remember that strokes, while both serious and life threatening, are also preventable, treatable and beatable. In fact, the ASA report that 80 percent of all strokes can be prevented through changes in lifestyle. For example, one in three Americans has high blood pressure, which is the leading cause of stroke. By taking steps to control high blood pressure, you can greatly reduce your chances of a stroke. According to the ASA, other key steps you can take to prevent a stroke include regular exercise, eating a healthy, low sodium diet and avoiding smoking.
Understanding the importance of supporting stroke prevention efforts, the Texas Legislature has passed several measures intended to reduce the number of Texans affected by strokes over the past several legislative sessions. Most recently, my fellow members and I supported legislation dedicating additional resources to expand and improve heart attack and stroke care programs in the state during the 84th Texas Legislative Session in 2015.
This May, I hope you join me in supporting a healthier community by learning about the ways you can reduce your chances of a stroke as well as how to recognize the sudden symptoms of a stroke. To learn more about ways you can reduce your chance of stroke, visit the American Stroke Association. Here you will also find information about the F.A.S.T. program and resources for those living with post-stroke conditions. You can also find additional healthy living tips by visiting the American Heart Association.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, you can access its website at Texas House of Representatives. The site features live streaming from committee hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can also follow the Texas Senate at Texas Senate. Also visit The Texas Governor’s official website.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
