Stroke prevention: symptoms to look out for
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA/KECY) - Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States experiences a stroke, that’s nearly 800,000 people a year. Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies from a stroke. That’s all according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Yuma Regional Medical Center (YRMC) says every second counts, even before calling 911, but the best measure to take is long before symptoms pop up.
The CDC says some symptoms to look out for are sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, confusion, trouble seeing, speaking, or difficulty understanding speech, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, and severe headache.
Dr. Magu says 80% of strokes are preventable.
“One of the most important risk factors for stroke is hypertension, which is blood pressure [that] is out of control. So, if anybody has uncontrollable blood pressure or is on multiple blood pressure medications and any of these symptoms happen, I think it’s very important, to get an evaluation as soon as possible," says Yuma Regional Medical Center CMO Dr. Bharat Magu
Dr. Magu says the first two weeks after a stroke are critical in determining the severity of long-term effects.
He says clot-busting medication as soon as symptoms occur can help minimize the long-term effects, which is why it is so important to seek medical attention right away if symptoms begin.
