Connie K. Ho for RedOrbit.com
May is the month to raise awareness on multiple issues. There’s Healthy Vision Month, as promoted by the National Eye Institute. Now there’s the National High Blood Pressure Education Month and Stroke Awareness Month, promoted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to the HHS, one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure (otherwise known as hypertension). Hypertension is called “the silent killer” because it doesn’t have any obvious symptoms but can cause damage to the brain, heart, and kidneys. Furthermore, many Americans don’t have hypertension correctly controlled. African Americans, in particular, are more at risk for developing hypertension and having it diagnosed at a younger age.
Similar to the consequences of hypertension, strokes can lead to serious complications and it’s touted as the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. The HHS reports that over 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year and over 130,000 people in the U.S. die each year from having a stroke. A stroke happens when there is a blockage that keeps blood from funneling to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain ruptures. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strokes can lead to a multitude of complications, including depression, difficulty controlling or expressing emotions, numbness, paralysis, problems with thinking, as well as pain in the hands and feet. The CDC also reports that demographic factors like age, ethnicity, family history, and sex can affect a person’s risk for having a stroke.
|