May marks National Stroke Awareness Month, and this year, the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center is partnering with FirstHealth of the Carolinas to host an event that addresses the single most important modifiable risk factor contributing to stroke—hypertension, or high blood pressure.
“Nearly 48 percent of strokes are attributed to high blood pressure,” says Catherine Lott, R.N., Moore Regional Hospital nurse who is helping to coordinate the event. “Getting your blood pressure checked is an important first step in controlling your risk for stroke.”
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, May 22 at the Senior Enrichment Center located at 8040 NC Highway 15 501 and will include blood pressure screenings and one-on-one consultation with nurses from FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital.
The event is open to all Moore County Senior Enrichment Center participants as well as the general public.
Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke and around 800,000 people will have a stroke in the United States this year alone.
“Learning how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke are just as important as knowing your risk factors,” says Lynne Drinkwater, program coordinator at the Senior Enrichment Center. “In addition to providing education on risk factors for stroke, we also want to use this event to highlight the importance of being able to recognize a stroke.”
Use the acronym “F.A.S.T.” to spot stroke signs and know when to call 911:
F – Is one side of the FACE drooping down or numb?
A – Is there sudden weakness or numbness in either ARM?
S – Is SPEECH slurred or is the person unable to speak or hard to understand?
T – TIME is of the essence. Call 911 immediately!
During National Stroke Awareness month, get to know your stroke risk factors and learn to better identify the signs and symptoms of stroke by attending this free event. To register, call the Senior Enrichment Center at (910) 215-0900.
