Become Stroke Aware

By Health Day

Story Created: May 8, 2012 at 7:00 PM CDT

Story Updated: May 9, 2012 at 7:00 AM CDT

Every two minutes about the length of this video roughly three Americans will have a stroke. But it doesn't have to happen to you.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Learning more about this very common health threat can add years to your life and life to your years.

That's because stroke is one of the leading causes of death in this country. More than that, it's also a common cause of disability. One study of people who'd had a stroke found that 30 percent still couldn't walk on their own six months later. And about one-quarter were living in a nursing home.

Many of the factors that put you at higher risk of a stroke are treatable or even preventable. These include:

* Diabetes

* High blood pressure

* High cholesterol

* Obesity

* And heart disease

The choices you make every day help determine whether you'll develop any of these risk factors. For starters, you can choose foods that will help keep your body healthy. And spending more of your time up and moving Ð and less time sitting is another key way to help ward off strokes.

Staying aware of the ways you can keep your brain safe from strokes is a good thing to do year-round not just in May! For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

I'm Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV, with the news that doctors are reading; health news that matters to you.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 250 Characters Left

FOX 55/27 Illinois and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Weather

Icon
75.0 F (23.9 C)
Fair
Pressure : 1008.1 mb
Humidity : 71 %
Wind : South at 12.7 MPH (11 KT)
More Weather

What's on FOX Illinois Full Schedule

1:00
The Closer
2:00
Paid Program
2:30
Paid Program
3:00
Paid Program
3:30
Paid Program
Full Schedule