Our Opinion: Stroke signals: Know the risk, warning signs

I didn't know the signs of a stroke until I experienced one.

May is American Stroke Month, with an emphasis this year on knowing if you are at risk of stroke, as well as recognizing the warning signs and seeking treatment immediately.

Missouri legislators have launched the Million Hearts Initiative to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.

The goal is attainable.

Stroke is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The association reports someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, but 80 percent are preventable.

Prevention involves monitoring and controlling risk factors. The number one risk factor is high blood pressure, a condition that affects 78 million Americans.

Controlling my blood pressure and other risk factors under the care of my physician and quitting smoking were among the lifestyle changes I adopted after suffering a stroke in 2000.

My stroke was relatively mild and I have regained mobility after awakening with numbness on my left side, both in the arm and leg.

I wasn't aware at the time that arm weakness is the letter "A" in the mnemonic device, F.A.S.T., used to recognize the signs of stroke. The acronym stands for:

F - Face drooping. Does one side of the face droop or is it numb?

A - Arm weakness. Is one arm weak of numb?

S - Speech difficulty. Is speech slurred? Is there an inability to speak or be understood?

T - Time to call 9-1-1.

Additional signs of a stroke include: Sudden severe headache; sudden trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination; sudden vision problems in one or both eyes; sudden confusion or trouble understanding.

Although prevention is best, Mark Turco, M.D., chief medical officer, Covidien Vascular Therapies, said: "In the event of a stroke emergency, quick recognition and treatment may have a dramatic impact on the outcome."

More information about stroke or American Stroke Month activities is available by visiting StrokeAssociation.org/strokemonth.

Because 80 percent of strokes are preventable, monitoring and controlling risk factors is essential.

And because immediate treatment is reduce consequences, knowing the signs of a stroke is imperative.

The Million Hearts Initiative wants you to be one in a million.

News Tribune/RFM