"ACT FAST"... Become Fashionably Aware
May is American Stroke Month, and RED is the color of choice to share awareness!! What is STROKE? A stroke occurs when a blood vessel, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is blocked by a clot, or the blood vessel ruptures. When this occurs, part of the brain doesn't receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs, and therefore causes brain cells to die. Stroke is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is crucial. However, strokes can be treated and are preventable.
Do you know the most preventable way to avoid a stroke is to control your blood pressure? High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors that can increase your chances of experiencing a stroke. Other risk factors that can be modified by your lifestyle include, diet, weight (obesity, overweight), drug use, lack of physical activity, and heavy consumption of alcohol. Medical risk factors include, blood pressures higher than 120/80 mmHg, cigarette smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, and a family history of stroke.
Anyone can have a stroke, do you know the warning signs of a stroke? Here are the warning signs...you must always remember to "ACT FAST!", if you or someone you know experience these symptoms.
"F"- facial drooping: Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Does their smile look lopsided or uneven?
"A"- arm weakness: Is one arm weak, or numb? Ask the person to lift both arms, does one arm drift downward?
"S"- speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the person able to correctly repeat the words?
"T"- TIME to call 9-1-1: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and say, "I think this is a stroke" to help get the person to the hospital immediately. Time is very important! Don't delay, also note the time when the first symptoms appeared. Emergency responders will need to know for treatment plans.
I hope this information helps you know more about how to prevent a stroke, and what to do if you ever think someone may be experiencing a stroke. Please share your awareness by wearing RED this month. I have provided some amazing looks above for inspiration, and will be posting some looks of myself as well throughout the month! I look forward to seeing your looks. Please feel free to tag me or share with me by replying to this post.
Enjoy your week! Choose a healthy lifestyle today!
XO,
Charity
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#strokeawarenessmonth #strokeawareness #fashion #wearred #ACTFAST