National Stroke Awareness Month

It’s National Stroke Awareness Month. 75% of strokes happen to those 65 and older, however, strokes can happen to anyone at any time.

After turning 55, the chance of having a stroke doubles approximately every 10 years.  Strokes are the second leading cause of death worldwide and are the leading cause of disability.

​There are many ways to prevent a stroke and steps one should follow to minimize the effects of a stroke, should one occur. There are two different types of stroke that can occur.

​A Hemorrhagic Stroke which occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures. The other type of stroke is an Ischemic Stroke which happens when there is a blood clot that blocks an artery’s blood flow to the brain.

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or a ‘mini stroke’ can last for just a short while, ranging anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and have the same symptoms of a stroke. With TIAs, the symptoms will go away after a short amount of time.

​These should still be treated with the same severity of any other stroke as they are also considered warning strokes and are often followed by major strokes anywhere from a few hours or a few days following the attack.

If you believe you or a loved one may be experiencing a stroke, there is an acronym that you can follow to quickly identify symptoms and get help fast.

B.E.F.A.S.T.

Balance - a loss of balance, severe headache, or dizziness.
Eyes - difficulty seeing out of one or both eyes, blurriness in vision.
Face drooping - an uneven facial droop, lack of muscle control in the face.
Arm weakness - numbness or weakness on one side of the body in the arm and/or leg.
Speech difficulty - slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
Time - time to call 911.

Every second counts when reacting to a stroke. The faster you can receive medical attention, the less likely it is that the stroke will leave major, long-term disabilities. Melody Living equips every resident with a medical alert pendant to use in case of emergencies that can get them care quickly.

The chances of having a stroke is one in six for men and one in five for women, though nearly 80% of strokes are preventable with healthy lifestyle choices and by working with your healthcare team to manage conditions that are risk factors for strokes. Conditions that affect your risk for stroke include:

• Sleep apnea
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Lack of exercise

Staying active and eating healthy are great steps to take for preventing a stroke.

Melody Living’s state-of-the-art fitness center and beautiful walking paths are the perfect locations to optimize your Physical Wellness.

Our in-house gourmet chef cooks three meals a day for our residents using fresh, locally-sourced (when possible), and seasonal ingredients.

Luxury senior living is just a tour away, to experience it for yourself, visit our contact page to learn more or give us a call at 719.900.1540 or for our independent living community or call 719.960.4005 for our assisted living and memory care community.