WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
May is National Stroke Awareness Month
According to the U . S . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States . More than 140,000 people die each year from stroke in this country .
It is also the leading cause of serious , long-term disability in the United States . Each year , approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke . Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65 . However , strokes can - and do - occur at ANY age . Stroke death rates are higher for African-Americans than for whites , even at younger ages .
The risk of certain kinds of strokes in current smokers is about double that of nonsmokers after adjustment for other risk factors . Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor , increasing risk about five-fold , but high blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke .
The Internet Stroke Center lists the most common sign of stroke as sudden weakness of the face , arm or leg , most often on one side of the body . Other warning signs can include sudden numbness of the face , arm , or leg , especially on one side of the body , sudden confusion , trouble speaking or understanding speech , sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes , sudden trouble walking , dizziness , loss of balance or coordination , and sudden severe headache with no known cause .
The signs of a stroke depend on the side of the brain that ’ s affected , the part of the brain affected , and how severely the brain is injured . Each person may have different stroke warning signs . If you or someone you know is having any of these signs , call 911 and seek medical help immediately . Stroke is a medical emergency . Treatment is available , but only if a stroke is recognized in time .
In the St . Louis area , Level I stroke centers , as designated in 2015 by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services , include :
The Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center – the first certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in Missouri , and one of the first in the U . S . One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza , St . Louis , MO 63110 ( 866 ) 552-5606 , barnesjewish . org
Mercy Stroke Center - St . Louis , 615 S . New Ballas Road , St . Louis , MO 63141 ( 314 ) 251-7262 , mercy . net
SLUCare Doctors Office Building , 3660 Vista Ave ., Suite 303 , St . Louis , MO 63110 ( 314 ) 977-6082 , slucare . edu
SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital ’ s Center for Stroke Rehabilitation , Bridgeton - 12380 DePaul Drive , Bridgeton , MO 63044 ( 314 ) 447-9700 ; Richmond Heights - 1027 Bellevue Ave ., 3rd Floor , St . Louis , MO 63117 ( 314 ) 768-5202 ; Lake Saint Louis - 100 Medical Plaza , 5th Floor , Lake Saint Louis , MO 63367 ( 636 ) 755-6500 , ssm-rehab . com
St . Anthony ’ s Medical Center , 10010 Kennerly Road , St . Louis , MO 63128 ( 314 ) 525-1000 , stanthonysmedcenter . com
Pediatric Stroke happens more often than you think , too . It is stated as one in 4,000 births .
Brendon ’ s Smile provides opportunities to advocate and raise awareness among the general public locally and online about pediatric stroke . It sponsors the annual Brendon ’ s Smile Foundation lecture at the Washington University School of Medicine to educate the medical community about pediatric stroke . Annual fundraisers include “ Take Me Out to the Ballgame ” at Bush Stadium and a September rally and walk . worldpediatricstrokeassociation . org
86 GAZELLE