Think FAST During National Stroke Awareness Month

Published on May 14, 2021

Weld County — May is National Stroke Awareness Month, an observance that highlights the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke. The acronym FAST stands for: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 911. Use FAST to quickly identify if someone is having a stroke. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of severe disability. In the United States, one person dies from stroke approximately every 4 minutes.

Stroke is preventable and largely treatable. A recent report notes that the age-adjusted death rate for stroke in Weld County decreased slightly over the past five years, from 32.5 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2016 to 27.5 in 2020. Approximately 57% of persons who die from stroke in Colorado are women and women tend to have worse functional outcomes after experiencing a stroke.

The Weld County Health Department urges everyone to learn the warning signs of stroke and take action to reduce their risk. Living a healthy lifestyle (e.g., being physically active, eating more fruits and vegetables and foods low in sodium and salt, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking) can reduce the chances of having a stroke. Properly managing certain medical conditions (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes) also can lower the risk.

Additional information regarding stroke prevention is available at www.cdc.gov/stroke.