JUNE IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH

June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada where organizations and individuals participate in raising awareness and funds. These funds help support those that suffer from the effects of a stroke and contribute to groundbreaking stroke research.

Stroke Awareness Month was created by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and for over 60 years they have dedicated June to educating Canadians about the importance of fighting heart disease and stroke – thus helping to save lives and improve the quality of life for many.

More than 400,000 Canadians are living with long-term disability from the effects a stroke.¹This number calls for us to educate more people about the potential risk of being diagnosed with this disease, especially women. Strokes disproportionately affect women with 59% of stroke deaths occurring in the female population.¹

There is a study gap to suggest that women are under-researched and underdiagnosed when it comes to strokes.² In fact, two-thirds of clinical heart disease and stroke research is conducted on men.³ Yet, women have higher mortality rates and more severe outcomes following a stroke when compared to men.⁴ Heart disease and stroke is the number one cause of premature death for women in Canada, which means you/your partner, your mother and grandmother may be at a greater risk.³

It’s important to share that we’ve made a lot of advancements in diagnosing and treating stroke patients. However, it’s also important to educate the ways to prepare if this disease was to occur, and with knowledge we can better protect ourselves and our loved ones.

What are the signs of a stroke?

Use the FAST method to determine quickly if you are experiencing a stroke.⁶ If you believe you are, call an ambulance immediately, do not try to drive yourself to the hospital.

Face– is it drooping?

Arms– can you raise both?

Speech– is it slurred or jumbled?

Time– if you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-11 right away.

In addition to the FAST method, there are also more detailed symptoms to watch out for if you think you could be experiencing a stroke:

Severe headache with no known cause.
Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg – especially if you’re experiencing this on one side of the face or body.
Confusion or have trouble speaking or understanding speech.
Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
Difficulty walking or dizziness, loss of balance or problems with coordination can also be a sign of a stroke.
Remember, Recognize These Signs and Act Fast!

Local Business Operators like the ones shown here have helped make this message possible. They are community boosters and are deserving of your support.

Thank you for Thinking and Shopping Local.