The document provides information about strokes, including what they are, common symptoms, risk factors, and prevention strategies. It defines a stroke as a lack of blood flow to the brain caused by a clot or ruptured blood vessel. The three R's of stroke prevention and treatment are outlined: reduce risk factors, recognize symptoms, and respond immediately by calling 911. Prevention guidelines from the National Stroke Association encourage controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, not smoking, managing diabetes, and living an active lifestyle. The Association works to reduce stroke incidence and impact through education, research, and supporting survivors.

1. Understanding Stroke
It’s A Brain Attack!

2. Be Stroke Smart
The 3 R’s of Stroke
Reduce Risk for Stroke
Recognize Symptoms of a Stroke
Respond - Call 911
when you see someone having a stroke

3. What is a Stroke ?
Lack of blood flow to the brain caused by
a clot or rupture of a blood vessel
Sudden brain damage
• Ischemic
– Most common
– Caused by a clot
Embolic Thrombotic
•Hemorrhagic
–Bleeding around brain
–Bleeding into brain

4. Brain Attack!
• Stroke happens in
the brain not in the
heart.
• Stroke is an
emergency. Call
911 if you see
someone having a
stroke.

5. Famous People
Who Had Strokes
Charles Dickens Della Reese
Author of “A Christmas Carol” Actress
Kirk Douglas Charles Schultz
Actor Creator of Charlie Brown
President Ford Dick Clark
President 1974-1977 Host of Rockin’ New Years Eve
Luther Vandross Ted Williams
Boston Red Sox Baseball player
Singer

6. Stroke Facts in America
• Third leading cause of death
in the United States
• 750,000 Americans have
strokes each year
• 160,000 people die from
stroke each year
• 6,000,000 stroke survivors

7. Stroke Facts in America
• Stroke is preventable
• Stroke can disable adults
• Every 45 seconds, someone
has a stroke

8. Stroke Symptoms
Sudden numbness or Sudden confusion,
weakness of face, arm or leg, trouble speaking or
especially on one side of the understanding
body Sudden trouble
walking, dizziness,
loss of balance or
coordination
Sudden trouble
seeing in one or
Sudden severe both eyes
headache with no
known cause
If you see someone having any of these symptoms
call 911! Every minute counts!

9. The Perceptions of Stroke
MYTH REALITY
• Stroke is not • Many strokes are preventable
preventable
• Stroke cannot be • Stroke can be treated
treated
• Stroke only strikes the • Anyone can have a stroke
elderly
• Stroke happens in the • Stroke is a “Brain Attack”
heart
• Stroke recovery ends • Stroke recovery can
after 6 months last a lifetime

10. Many strokes
are preventable!
NSA developed these guidelines to help YOU and
YOUR FAMILY reduce YOUR risk for stroke...

11. National Stroke Association’s
Stroke Prevention Guidelines
1. Tell your mom, dad, aunts, uncles and grandparents
to know their blood pressure. They should have it
checked at least once a year. If their blood pressure
is high, ask them to work with their doctor to control
it.
2. Find out if you or a family member has atrial
fibrillation, when your heart feels like it is racing.
3. If you have a family member that smokes, ask him or
her to stop.

12. National Stroke Association’s
Stroke Prevention Guidelines
(continued)
4. If you have a family member that has high
cholesterol, ask him or her to work with their
doctor to control it.
6. If you or a family member are diabetic, ask your
family member to follow the doctor’s
recommendations carefully to control their
diabetes.

13. National Stroke Association’s
Stroke Prevention Guidelines
(continued)
7. Include exercise, like football and
cheerleading, in the activities you enjoy in
your daily routine.
8. Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet.
9. If you experience any stroke symptoms, seek
immediate medical attention. Call 911!

14. Reduce the Impact of Stroke
• Stroke is a Brain Attack!
– Preventable and treatable
• 3 R’s of Stroke
– Reduce Risk
– Recognize Stroke Symptoms
– Respond immediately by calling 911

15. National Stroke Association
Reducing, Teaching and Advancing Stroke Care
• Reducing the Incidence and Impact of
Stroke
• Teaching People About Stroke
• Teaching Doctors and Nurses About Stroke
• Advancing Stroke Research
• Teaching Stroke Survivors and the people
that take care of them about Stroke

16. Now go to www.stroke.org
to find more fun games,
contests, and ways to
learn about stroke with
National Stroke
Association