WAYNESBORO – Jennifer Shank, stroke program coordinator for Wellspan Health in Chambersburg and Waynesboro, provided information to Waynesboro Rotarians this week about strokes and how to prevent them.
Strokes, basically described as “an attack on the brain,” occur about 800,000 times annually in the United States and are a leading cause of disability. The most common type of stroke is ischemic, caused by blood clots or plaque that blocks brain arteries. Less common hemorrhagic strokes result from leaking or damaged blood vessels. A third type of stroke is transient ischemic, which is basically a less severe version of ischemic.
Stroke warning signs include loss of balance or dizziness, blurred or lost vision, facial drooping, weakness or numbness in arms and speech difficulty. If a stroke is suspected, the best policy is to call 911 as quickly as possible, as delay can result in loss of brain function. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and age (over 55). Males and Black people are also at higher risk, Shank said.
