Stroke: Taking Action Handout

Stroke: Taking Action Woman be aware

Know the signs You may feel any of these when having a stroke: • s udden weakness, numbness or tingling mainly on one side of your body • d rooping of your eyelid or mouth on one side of your face • c onfusion, loss of memory or sudden loss of consciousness • s lurred speech, loss of speech or problem understanding simple statements

More women have strokes than men, and strokes kill twice as many women each year as breast cancer. Women over 30 who smoke and take high-estrogen birth control pills have a stroke risk 22 times higher than average.

Did you know…?

• s udden severe headache for no known reason

• Strokes kill about 130,000 Americans each year.

• t rouble staying balanced, sudden falls or feeling dizzy for no known reason

• S troke is a leading cause of death and the largest cause of disability in the United States.

• s udden changes in vision—blurring, dimming or loss of sight

• E arly treatment can prevent or lessen the damage in 4 out of 5 strokes.

Act Quickly

• Smoking doubles the risk of stroke.

• C all 911 right away if you have any of the above signs or see them in someone else.

• N early 1/3 of all stroke victims will have another stroke within 5 years.

• E arly emergency treatment can save your life and prevent or lessen brain damage.

• C ontrolling high blood pressure is often very helpful in preventing a stroke.

• S ome treatments will not work if not done within 3 hours of when your symptoms start.

• The effects of a stroke vary widely from person to person.

ATLANTA GA • 800-241-4925 • www.p-h.com Bringing Patients & Health Together

Sources: N ational Stroke Association and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Product # 283A

Stroke Risk Factors There are many factors that increase your risk of having a stroke. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk.

These are risk factors you can change Check the box if you: have high blood pressure (120/80 or higher) have high cholesterol (240 or higher)

Strokes can be prevented. The key is to limit your risk factors. Here are some good tips:

smoke or live with a smoker

• Control your blood pressure.

do not get regular exercise

• Find out if you have atrial fibrillation.

eat a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet

• D on’t smoke and try to avoid being around others who do.

are overweight

• If you are taking any heart medicines, follow your doctor’s advice.

If you have any of the risk factors you can’t change, pay special attention to the ones you can change.

There are also stroke risk factors you can’t change, including: • a family history of stroke

• I f you drink alcohol, don’t have more than 1-2 servings a day. (1 serving = 1½ oz of 80 proof liquor or 5 oz of wine or 12 oz of beer)

• being over 55 years of age

• Check your cholesterol.

• being a female past menopause

• E at a healthy, well-balanced diet, low in fat and sodium, with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

• having had a previous stroke

• If you are diabetic, follow your doctor’s advice.

• having diabetes

• Exercise for 30 minutes or more a day if you can.

• being African-American

• Maintain a healthy body weight.

ATLANTA GA • 800-241-4925 • www.p-h.com Bringing Patients & Health Together

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