Stroke Awareness Month

May 12, 2022 Providence News Team

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Learn how to manage your risk of a stroke with these resources.

Our nationally-recognized stroke team at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center provides rapid, high-level diagnosis and care at any hour. As a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center, we’re certified by national leaders for meeting advanced standards of stroke care. The center is part of the Providence Spokane Neuroscience Institute, a comprehensive, integrated neuroscience program that treats conditions of the brain and spine. Learn more about our stroke program.

Regular checkups, exercise, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle – including knowing and managing risk factors – can help prevent or limit the damage of a stroke. To prevent or limit the damage of stroke, call 911 if you see symptoms of stroke.

Symptoms of stroke start suddenly and include:

  • Confusion or difficulty understanding others
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Dizziness
  • Severe headache
  • Trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination
  • Vision problems in one or both eyes
  • Weakness or numbness in your face, arm or leg, often on just one side

Risk factors for stroke include:

  • Hypertension
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Smoking
  • Diabetes
  • Diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Obesity
  • High cholesterol
  • Carotid Artery Disease
  • Heart disease
  • Peripheral artery disease
  • Sickle Cell anemia 
  • Prior stroke or TIA

Learn more about stroke risk factors by visiting stroke.org

Stroke is a symptom of vascular or blood vessel disease. Most strokes are due to a build-up of plaque in your blood vessels. To reduce plaque build-up:

  • Exercise
  • If you are diabetic, control blood glucose levels
  • If you smoke, quit
  • Manage cholesterol levels
  • Manage weight
  • Monitor blood pressure regularly and treat high blood pressure

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The Providence News Team brings you the updates to keep you informed about what's happening across the organizational ecosystem. From partnerships to new doctor announcements, we are committed to keeping you informed.

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