b'WHEN IT COMES TO STROKE,TIME IS OF THE ESSENCEMAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH.IN THIS ONE MONTH ALONE SOME 65,000 AMERICANS WILL EXPERIENCE A STROKE ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL STROKE ASSOCIATION.THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH REPORT STROKES ARE THE FIFTH LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE U.S.YOU ARE LIKELY AWARE OF MANY OF THE RISK FACTORS OF OTHER DIAGNOSES LIKE HEART DISEASE OR BREAST CANCER, BUT WHAT DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT STROKE?By Alicia WanekWhen Don M. woke up one morning to start his day, he quicklynicotine products and monitoring your blood pressure through realized something wasnt quite right.I went to go make coffeeregular checkups is imperative.Having a family history of hy-and didnt know what I was doing.I just couldnt make the cof- pertension or strokes can put you at risk, too.Since stroke can fee.I told my wife we needed to go to the doctor.Fortunately,affect even those who appear very healthy, ultimately recognizing his wife sought medical attention immediately.According to Dr.stroke symptoms and getting medical help immediately can be Harry Dorsey timeliness is of the essence.The primary symp- most important in preventing long-term impact.toms of a stroke are slurred speech; unilateral weakness, meaningFor Don, seeking medical help when he first experienced symp-weakness on one side of the body or the other; and sudden facialtoms likely saved his life, and for that hes extremely grateful.For droop.If you notice any of these three things, its critical to get tohis children and grandchildren, they are equally grateful to have an emergency room as quickly as possible because theres a limit- had these six more years to create memories with their beloved ed amount of time to be given an agent to dissolve the clot. Papaw.A stroke is caused when theres a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel to the brain. Brain cells in the immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.In the case of a stroke caused by a blockage, or an isch-emic stroke, administration of tPA (tissue plasminogen activa-tor) within approximately four hours can reverse the course of the stroke.Four hours is the gold standard, says Dr. Dorsey, although he points to some studies showing there is some benefit of tPA administration within six hours.In the case of a hemor-rhagic stroke, however, the outcome is less favorable.If its a brain bleed, they cant do as much about that, he says.Despite getting to the hospital quickly, Dons recovery was still a long process.After four days in the hospital he was moved to a rehabilitation facility for two weeks and then an additional six months of therapy at home.The extent of a stroke can cause many long-lasting effects including speech and swallowing dif-ficulties, unilateral weakness, memory issues, and trouble with visual-perceptive skills, among many others.How can you prevent a stroke?Of course, good lifestyle choices make the biggest impact.Healthy, low cholesterol diets and ex-ercise prevent arterial buildup.The biggest risk factors according to Dr. Dorsey are smoking and hypertension, so eliminating all GoodLifeFamilyMag.comMAY | JUNE 201965'