National Stroke Awareness Month

​May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Strokes can happen to anyone at any time, however, 75% of strokes happen to those 65 and older. Chances of having a stroke doubles approximately every 10 years after turning 55. Strokes are the number two cause of death worldwide and leading cause of disability. There are many ways to prevent a stroke and steps to follow to minimize the effects of a stroke should one occur. 

​First thing to know is that there are two different types of strokes that can occur. A Hemorrhagic Stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures, and the other type of stroke is an Ischemic Stroke, which happens when there is a blood clot that blocks an artery’s  blood flow to the brain. 

There is also the instance that one could suffer from a Transient Ischemic Attack  (TIA), also known as a mini stroke. TIAs can last for just a short while, ranging anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and have the same symptoms of a stroke.
 
With TIAs, the symptoms will go away after a short amount of time. These should still be treated with the same severity of any other stroke as they are also considered warning strokes and are often followed by major strokes anywhere from a few hours or a few days following the attack. If you believe you or a loved one may be experiencing a stroke, there is an acronym that you can follow to quickly identify symptoms and get help fast.

B.E.F.A.S.T.

• Balance - a loss of balance, severe headache, or dizziness.
• Eyes - difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes, blurriness in vision.
• Face drooping - an uneven facial droop, lack of muscle control in the face.
• Arm weakness - numbness or weakness on one side of the body in the arm and/or leg.
• Speech difficulty - slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
• Time - time to call 911.

 
Every second counts when reacting to a stroke. The faster you can receive medical attention, the less likely it is that the stroke will leave major, long-term disabilities. Melody Living equips every resident with a medical alert pendant in case of emergencies that can get them care quickly.
 
The chances of having a stroke is 1 in 6 for men and 1 in 5 for women. Though nearly 80% of strokes are preventable with healthy lifestyle choices and by working with a healthcare team to manage conditions that are risk factors for strokes. Conditions that increase your risk for stroke include:
 

• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Lack of exercise

Staying active and eating healthy are great steps to take for preventing a stroke. Melody Living’s state-of-the-art fitness center and beautiful walking paths are the perfect place in our senior living community to practice Physical Wellness.
 
Our in-house gourmet Chef cooks three meals a day for our residents using only fresh, locally sourced (when possible), and seasonal ingredients. 

​Luxury senior living is just a quick click away! Come explore and experience the Lake in the Hills senior retirement community that Melody Living has to offer McHenry County residents by scheduling a tour with us HERE or give us a call at 847.957.7070 - we’d love to chat with you.