Stroke kills about 1,500 Mississippians each year, and smokers are more at risk. During May, National Stroke Awareness Month, the Mississippi State Department of Health is stressing the importance of taking meaningful steps to lower risk and prolong life.

 

Those who smoke, are overweight or drink more than a moderate amount of alcohol, are increasing their chance of having a stroke. Black men and women are at a substantially higher risk of dying from stroke. Older residents, or those with a family history of stroke, have higher risk.

 

“We know that tobacco use increases the risk of blood clots, which are the cause of stroke,” said Tiffany Johnson, director of the Office of Tobacco Control at MSDH.

 

Because the signs of a stroke appear only when the stroke is happening, being able to spot those signs – numbness, confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech, loss of balance and headache – can save your life. Residents should also memorize the FAST acronym to quickly recognize stroke symptoms:

 

— Face drooping

— Arm weakness

— Speech difficulty, such as slurring

— Time to call 911

 

Staying active and smoke-free are two ways to dramatically reduce risk of having a stroke. It’s also important to have blood pressure checked regularly, know blood pressure numbers and work to get them to healthy levels. The four health numbers residents should know are blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index. MSDH offers free blood pressure screenings at all county health departments and fire stations. For a list of county health departments, visit msdh.ms.gov/locations.

 

Strokes can be prevented. Quitting smoking and staying tobacco-free is the first step. MSDH offers free, live coaching for those who want to quit. Call the Mississippi Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. For more information on the dangers of tobacco products, visit www.quitnow.net/ms.