Learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke! May is National Stroke Awareness Month
DECATUR— When a stroke occurs, doctors often say “time is brain.” That’s because every
minute the brain is without oxygen due to a stroke, two million brain cells die. This can often
lead to brain damage, disability or death.
“Treatment for stroke is available in the ambulance, so it’s critical to dial 9-1-1 immediately if
you suspect that you or someone else may be having a stroke,” says Dr. Sherry Reid, neurologist
with HSHS Medical Group. “Immediate treatment and early intervention may minimize the
long-term effects of stroke which is why calling for emergency assistance is so important.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), someone in the United
States has a stroke every 40 seconds and someone dies of stroke every four minutes.
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital encourages everyone to know the signs of a stroke by remembering
the phrase/acronym BE FAST:
B – Balance difficulty: Sudden loss of balance or coordination, weakness or dizziness
E – Eye changes: Sudden onset of vision changes in one or both eyes
F – Face drooping: Sudden onset of facial drooping, usually on one side
A – Arm weakness: Sudden weakness or numbness in the arm, leg or face, usually on one
side of the body
S – Speech difficulty: Sudden onset of trouble speaking or difficulty in understanding speech
T – Terrible headache: Sudden onset of severe headache with no known cause
The CDC says 80% of strokes are preventable by making lifestyle changes to reduce your risk:
• Don’t smoke
• Be physically active
• Control cholesterol
• Control blood pressure
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Reduce blood sugar
Dr. Reid says those preventative actions are also important because they are within your control.
Other things like age, family history, race and gender are not.
If you think someone is having a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately. For more information about
signs, symptoms and how to respond, visit the American Stroke Association or the CDC stroke
webpage.
Ready to Care for You
HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is designated as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital by the Illinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Illinois Department of Public Health makes these
designations based on the hospital’s ability to meet certain criteria aligned with nationally
recognized, evidence-based standards, such as those from the American Heart/Stroke
Association and Brain Attack Coalition.
For more information about HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital, visit stmarysdecatur.com.
About HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital
Founded in 1878 by three Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital is a 230-bed, all private room health care facility that combines modern technology with the caring spirit of the original founders. St. Mary’s is situated on an attractive 21-acre campus overlooking Lake Decatur and offers a broad spectrum of comprehensive health services, including the latest diagnostic equipment, interventional cardiology, surgical and medical intervention, emergency medical care, outpatient radiation therapy, pain management and a sleep center. St. Mary’s also offers a wide range of community education and wellness programs. The hospital also has both a unique intergenerational day services program and the community’s only provider of hospital-based behavioral health services for all ages.
Learn more by visiting www.stmarysdecatur.com.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high-quality Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our physician practices and 15 local hospitals in two states – Illinois (Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, O’Fallon, Shelbyville and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, and Hospital Sisters of St. Francis is the founding institute.
For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.
For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visit www.hospitalsisters.org.
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