HIMPower Magazine HimPower November 2017 | Page 25

IF STROKE HAPPENS, ACT F.A.S.T. Knowing your risk factors is only half the battle. Strokes come on suddenly and should be treated as medical emergencies. If you think you or someone else may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T.: Blood Pressure: Control your blood pres- sure. Cholesterol: Manage your cholesterol. Smoking: Quit smoking or don’t start. • Make lifestyle changes: Eat healthy and stay active. Choose healthy foods most of the time, including foods with less salt, or sodium, to lower your blood pressure, and get regular exercise. Being over- weight or obese raises your risk of stroke. Talk to your doctor about your chances of having a stroke, including your age and whether anyone in your family has had a stroke. Get other health conditions under control, such as diabetes or heart disease. F—Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A—Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S—Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is the speech slurred or strange? • T—Time: If you see any of these signs, call 9-1-1 right away. Calling an ambulance is critical because emergency medical tech- nicians, or EMTs, can take you to a hospital • that can treat stroke patients, and in some cases they can begin life-saving treatment on the way to the emergency room. Some treat- ments for stroke work only if given within For more information, go to www.cdc.gov the first 3 hours after symptoms start. HOW CAN I PREVENT STROKE? Most strokes can be prevented by keeping medical conditions under control and making lifestyle changes. A good place to start is to know your ABCS of heart health: Aspirin: Aspirin may help reduce your risk for stroke. But you should check with your doctor before taking aspirin because it can make some types of stroke worse. Before taking aspirin, talk with your doctor about whether aspirin is right for you. www.himpowermagazine.com  25