June is the official Stroke Awareness Month in Canada. Did you know 50,000 strokes occur each year in Canada? And of that 50% of all strokes are preventable? Controllable risk factors for a stroke include obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking or excessive alcohol intake.
A stroke can happen at any age. Recognizing the signs of stroke is easy if you learn to think F.A.S.T.
Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?
Time: If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 911.
For information, visit www.heartandstroke.com