Strokes are the leading cause of adult disability

May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

The Hospitals of Providence explains to ABC-7 the symptoms and effects.

When a person has a stroke it kills the body’s neurons and neurons are the nerve cells that transmit information to our brain.

That is why it is important to quickly seek immediate medical attention.

This month, KVIA and the Hospitals of Providence have been providing the signs to watch out for when it comes to a stroke.

These include face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty.

“Eight-hundred patients have a stroke every year in the United States,” said Chigolum Eze, neurologist for the Hospitals of Providence.

Eze explains what causes a stroke.

“The symptoms are caused because you have blood flow to specific portions of the brain cut off, and whenever you have blood flow to the brain cut off, you have 1.9 million neurons die every minute,” Eze said.

Eze said if someone notices any signs or symptoms of a stroke, even if they seem to fluctuate or disappear they must call 911 immediately.

Eze tells ABC-7 medical professionals have a limited time to treat the effects.

“For most patients the time frame is three hours,” Eze said.

If not treated quickly enough — the repercussions can be life changing.

“It’s the leading cause of adult disability. In a lot of cases you have permanent damage,” Eze said.

So what can one do to prevent a stroke? Eze says it’s simple.

“It starts with getting a primary care physician, having your annual or bi-annual well check,” Eze said.

So what are some of the factors that can put you at risk of a stroke?
Eze said among some of the factors is high blood pressure — cigarette smoking and high cholesterol.