May is National Stroke Awareness Month. What are stroke symptoms, and how can you get a stroke assessment? CHANS Home Health Care and Mid Coast Hospital are offering stroke risk assessments at their community-based blood pressure clinics in the Brunswick area.
Since all of the major stroke symptoms appear suddenly and without warning or pain; they need to be taken seriously. The most common symptoms can be remembered by using the acronym FAST. F =Face: Is one side of the face drooping down? A = Arm: Can the person raise both arms, or is one arm weak? S = Speech: Is speech slurred or confusing? T = Time: Times is critical! Call 9-11 immediately. It is important to remember that time lost between onset of symptoms and treatment is brain lost. Other, less common stroke symptoms are: sudden trouble seeing, sudden dizziness, and generalized weakness.
Don’t wait for stroke symptoms! Get an assessment!
Don’t wait until you have stroke symptoms to think about having an assessment! Midcoast area assessment schedule:
- Wed. May 8 5:00-6:00pm Wiscasset Community Center 242 Gardiner Rd., Wiscasset
- Mon. May 13 11:00-11:30am Westrum House 22 Union St., Topsham
- Tues. May 14 2:00-3:00pm Dike’s Landing, Bath Housing Authority 20 Dike’s Landing Rd., Bath
- Tues. May 14 5:00-6:00pm Neighborhood Café, UCC 15 Congress Ave., Bath
- Wed. May 15 10:30-12:00pm Mid Coast Hunger Prevention 84 Union St., Brunswick
- Thurs. May 16 10:30-11:00am People Plus 35 Union St., Brunswick
- Thurs. May 16 11:30-12:30pm Freeport Community Services 53 Depot St., Freeport
Stroke Risk Assessments are also available at the Mid Coast Hospital blood pressure clinics every Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – noon, in the Community Resource Room, near the Emergency Department, 123 Medical Center Drive, Brunswick.
According to the American Stroke Association, strokes are the 4th leading cause of death in America. Those who survive a stroke can be left with life altering disabilities. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel is either blocked by a clot, or bursts which limits or cuts off blood to an area of the brain. When the supply of blood is limited or cut off to the brain, it can start to die, which causes the stroke symptoms and damage to the brain.
Most people do not know if they are at risk for a stroke. Having a stroke risk assessment will help you understand your level of risk. Education will be provided to participants on the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and how to control such factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or tobacco use. If you have a family history of stroke or are concerned about your risk of having a stroke, please see your primary care physician as soon as possible. If you suspect you are having a stroke, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.
For more information about the clinics please call CHANS Home Health Care at (207) 729-6782.