June is finally here!  Along with beautiful warm weather, June is also Stroke Awareness Month in Canada.  This awareness month was created by the Heart & Stroke Foundation to recognizing what stroke is, the signs of a stroke, and its risks and prevention.  

Types of Stroke

There are different types of strokes.  When blood stops flowing to the brain, it damages brain cells, resulting in a stroke.  The ischemic stroke is caused by a clot or blockage in a blood vessel in the brain.  A hemorrhagic stroke is when an artery in the brain breaks open, which then interrupts blood flow causing damage to the brain.  The transient ischemic attack (TIA) is caused by a small clot that briefly blocks an artery – and this is sometimes called a mini-stroke.

The Signs

There’s a great acronym that was created to easily recognize the signs of stroke – FAST.

Is the Face dropping?  Can both Arms be raised?  Is Speech slurred or jumbled?  If so, it’s Time to call 9-1-1 immediately.  The longer a suspected stroke victim waits for medical care, the more damage the stroke can possibly do.

Prevention

In addition to recognizing the signs, the best way to deal with strokes is to avoid them!  Nine out of 10 people have at least one risk factor for stroke.  The healthier you become, the lower your risk factors and you can enjoy life to the fullest more.  Prevention is key.

Here are some of the best ways to prevent strokes:

• Eat healthier
• Move more, exercise more
• Maintain a good weight
• Quit smoking
• Reduce your alcohol consumption
• No recreational drug use
• Manage stress

Talk to your doctor about ways that you can reduce your risk for stroke, and how to incorporate a healthier lifestyle.  Stroke doesn’t have to be in your future.  Reduce stress levels, experiment with new and healthy foods, try a new exercise, and do some deep breathing.  Start recognizing the signs of stroke. Do this, and watch your quality of life increase and your risks drop.

More Information

For more information, go to https://www.heartandstroke.ca/  

Also, check out our Marketplace for professional services to help you with your road to recovery after a stroke – https://mycarebase.com/professional-service/.  My Home Rehab, Inc. is a mobile rehabilitation and physiotherapy clinic for seniors, specializing in stroke rehabilitation, fall prevention, and physical strengthening in the Vancouver area.