Trinity StrokeAware
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain - and every 45 seconds someone in the United States has one.
Seconds Matter
The most important factor in stroke care is time. Saving time increases the chances of saving parts of the brain. People who are at risk of a stroke may not even know it yet. You could be at an increased risk if:
- You have high blood pressure, or a family history of strokes
- You smoke, or have conditions including diabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease
- You take certain medications which increase clot formation, such as birth control pills (particularly in women who smoke and are over 35)
- You are pregnant or have delivered a baby in recent weeks
- You are male
- You abuse alcohol or use cocaine, which increase the risk of brain bleeds
If you identify with some of these risk factors, or you aren’t sure about your health history, take our
free online stroke assessment. Investing a few minutes in your health could help give you some of those precious seconds when you might need them the most.
Know Your Risk, Know the Symptoms
If you or someone around you experiences a sudden onset of any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
- Weakness or paralysis on the side of the face, or any part of the body
- Numbness or tingling
- Vision changes, such as eye movements or drooping eyelids
- Slurred speech or difficulty reading, listening or writing
- Swallowing difficulties or drooling
To learn more about your personal risks and to talk through the health and lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your overall wellness, contact your physician. Don't have one or looking for another opinion? Use our
Physician Finder.
To talk to someone sooner about stroke symptoms, prevention or treatment, please contact Trinity’s My Nurse at (309) 779-2000 and choose option one.