Understanding Stroke: Shedding Light on American Stroke Awareness Month
May marks a crucial time in the medical calendar - American Stroke Awareness Month. It's a time when communities, healthcare professionals, and organizations come together to shed light on a condition that affects millions worldwide. This month serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of education, prevention, and timely intervention in the fight against strokes. The Impact of Strokes Strokes are a leading cause of long-term disability and mortality globally. In the United States alone, someone experiences a stroke every 40 seconds, with around 795,000 people suffering from a new or recurrent stroke each year. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent individuals and families whose lives are forever changed by the sudden onset of this medical emergency. Understanding Strokes A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is disrupted, either by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or by bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). The brain cells deprived of o...