There are many thing you can do to avoid strokes - or minimize the results of one.
sethink / Pixabay – There are many thing you can do to avoid strokes – or minimize the results of one.

There are two kinds of strokes – hemorrhagic and ischemic. Hemorrhagic strokes are caused by weakened blood vessels brought on typically by high blood pressure. Eighty-seven percent of all strokes are ischemic in nature. Ischemic strokes are caused by temporary clots or blockages, in your blood vessels or arteries. Over 2000 Americans have a stroke every day. That is roughly one stroke every four seconds. Every four minutes someone dies from a stroke. Forty percent of stroke victims are male.

An excellent book for your consideration is My Stroke of Insight, by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. She is a neuroanatomist, a person who studies the structure of the neural system. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke and was able to remember each symptom as it occurred. It took a long time for her to recover. She wrote a book about her personal experience. It is a great read for those interested in brain function and health.

Stroke is the number three cause of death in the United States. It is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. Most, nearly seventy-five percent, occur in people 65 years of age or older. The risk of stroke increases each year after you turn 55 years of age.

Knowing about strokes can help long-term health. The first thing to know is how to recognize a stroke. Stroke symptoms are:

● Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg
● Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech
● Sudden trouble seeing one or both eyes
● Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination
● Sudden severe headache with no known cause
● Call 911 immediately if you or someone else has any of these symptoms

Some people remember F-A-S-T to identify stroke symptoms. F-A-S-T stands for:

● F stands for face drooping
● A stands for arm weakness
● S stands for speech difficulty
● T stands for time to call 911

When in doubt, call 911. Time is of the essence.

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