Considering that June is Stroke Awareness month, now is a great time to learn or remind yourself of the cardinal signs of stroke. A stroke occurs when the brain is deprived of adequate blood supply, causing brain cells to die within minutes. Quick thinking and early access to medical care can save lives and drastically reduce complications. Unfortunately strokes affect 50,000 Canadians each year. Test yourself with the following quiz and pass the information on to your loved ones.
1.) Name 3 risk factors for stroke.
i.)
ii.)
iii.)
2.)Which of the following is NOT a common symptom of stroke? Sudden on set of:
a.) anxiety
b.) blurred vision
c.) one-sided drooping eyelid or mouth
d.) severe headache
e.) difficulty speaking or walking
3.) If you begin to experience signs of a stroke, you should:
a.) Call a friend or loved one to let them know you’re not feeling well and ask them to check on you in a few hours.
b.) Wait 15 minutes to see if symptoms subside. If they worsen call 911.
c.) Call 911 immediately because every minute counts. The most effective treatments are only available within the first 3 hours after the onset of symptoms.
4.) If you have had a ‘TIA’ or ‘mini stroke’ in the past, you are at a 5x higher risk for a full blown stroke, particularly in the following ____ (days/years) that could cause more serious damage.
Congratulations on taking steps to educate yourself and protect your health! See below for answers.
Answers to quiz:
1.) smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, being overweight or obese, personal or family history of stroke, over age 55, sedentary lifestyle, high alcohol intake.
2.) A
3.)C.
4.)2 years.
