Although May was Stroke Awareness Month, this condition deserves more than just 31 days’ worth of discussion. At TLC Your Home Way Care, we know that strokes are most common in senior adults. As part of stroke recovery and stroke rehabilitation, families in the Rock Hill, SC area may call on us to provide assistance to their loved ones as they go about their daily tasks. Here are three things our team wants you to know about strokes.
- Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke. The National Stroke Association uses the acronym FAST to help people remember the signs and symptoms of a stroke. FAST stands for Face, Arms, Speech, and Time. Here’s the significance of each of these four things:
* Face: One side of a person’s face droops when you ask them to smile.
* Arms: One arm drifts downward when you ask them to lift their arms.
* Speech: A person’s speech slurs when repeating a simple sentence.
* Time: If you notice any of the above signs, contact 9-1-1 right away. The faster treatment is received, the less damage may be done to the brain. - Know how serious a stroke can be. Strokes are currently the leading cause for long-term disability among adults overall and seniors in particular. While they can be fatal, they can also cause a wide range of impairments to physical, cognitive, and emotional health.
- Know what you can do to reduce the chances of a stroke. Smoking, poor eating habits, and a lack of exercise can increase your chances of a stroke. According to studies, improving these areas of your life (and the sooner, the better) can help lower the risk of a stroke. Awareness of strokes and their symptoms is also helpful so that treatment can be obtained as quickly as possible.
Here at TLC Your Way Home Care, we often help those who are in stroke recovery in Rock Hill, SC and Tega Cay, SC. See how our caregivers can help you or your loved ones stay healthy and happy while they heal. Please feel free to call our office today to learn more about our 24/7 home care services.