Beating Brain Attacks: Stroke Awareness

By Kellie Morris

May is Stroke Awareness Month. This time is designated for a coordinated effort for education about the very real possibility for people of any age to suffer brain attacks and the lasting effects of an attack. Even with ongoing educational efforts, a stroke is still the leading cause of “serious long-term disability” and among the top five causes of death in the United States. It is past time to beat the statistics and be in the know!

One must know the risk factors to limit the potential of having a brain attack. An article from John Hopkins Medicine lists the most common as well as some lesser-known risks. Stroke is considered preventable and treatable, nonetheless no one wants to have the experience. Some risk factors include: high blood pressure (a major culprit in brain attacks), smoking, excessive alcohol use, illegal drugs, birth control pills (oral contraceptives), diabetes, heart disease, lack of exercise, and obesity.

One must also know if they are experiencing symptoms. The most common signs are sudden severe headaches, dizziness, slurred speech, and numbness on one side of the body. It is most important not to ignore symptoms. Antwoine Washington experienced a brain attack at 35 years of age. He says jokingly, “Be a hypochondriac,” as he reflects on how he rationalized and tried to evade his symptoms. He credits his wife for advocating on his behalf as being critical to his diagnosis, care, and recovery. Like many, he couldn’t believe that he could be affected so young. With seriousness, he encourages others to take prescribed medications and maintain annual checkups, especially men.

Washington also now knows what to do if he experiences symptoms again — CALL 911. While there have been tremendous advancements in stroke care with the development of medications called TPA’s, time is a critical factor in managing stroke care. Many people report calling a relative when they experience life-threatening symptoms. Call 911 FIRST! Since strokes can be recurring, acceptance of potential future episodes makes knowing the symptoms, and one’s own body, critical.

One must know how to accept loss and look to the future. While a stroke can be fatal, many people survive brain attacks. Although they may not lose their lives, there can be many other types of loss. Survivors may grieve the loss of physical appearance, ability to move freely due to physical impairment, confidence, independence, intimacy, finances, memory, vision, etc. It is less common now than in years past to see survivors with severe physical disabilities, but the mental and emotional effects are reported to be equally life-changing. Washington says, “When I tell people, they don’t believe me. So I stopped telling people and felt that no one really cared.” He questioned himself and wondered if he had done something to cause his condition. In the article, “Grief after Stroke,” grief is said to be “a normal response” to the losses experienced.

Beating brain attacks looks like success when

• survivors share their stories,
• you know the symptoms and signs,
• you manage your healthcare, and
• you attend educational events to become knowledgeable.

 Although stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., and the number one cause of long-term adult disability, there are many misconceptions about stroke. Here are some of the most common ones.