American Heart Association/American Stroke Association invites Missourians 
to join Together to End Stroke™

During American Stroke Month in May, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association encourages Missourians to join together to end the #2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of disability.

Despite claiming more than 133,000 lives annually in the United States and being a leading cause of serious, long-term disability, stroke is largely preventable and treatable. In fact, as many as 80 percent of strokes are preventable. Most people who have a stroke have high blood pressure, so it’s incredibly important to know your numbers and keep them under control to help prevent a stroke.

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Nearly one in six American adults with high blood pressure don’t know it, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Awareness is also key when it comes to stroke treatment. For many strokes, the right treatment right away can save lives and improve recovery so it’s important to get help immediately. The American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke™ initiative, sponsored nationally by Medtronic, teaches the acronym F.A.S.T. to help people recognize the most common stroke warning signs and what to do if one occurs:

For more information about stroke or American Stroke Month activities, follow #StrokeMonth on social media or visit StrokeAssociation.org/strokemonth.