Although stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. and the number one cause of disability, this condition doesn’t get the respect and attention it deserves. When people have sudden chest pain, they know they might have a heart attack. They call 9-1-1 and seek help immediately.
But people who suddenly become weak or numb on one side of their body, or experience sudden problems with speech or vision, often act unhurried in seeking help.
Why is this? One possibility is that heart attacks are usually painful. Strokes are not necessarily painful, and even when pain is present, it can be mild. Pain is a powerful motivator, and some people have the mistaken belief that all serious medical conditions hurt, and the seriousness of the problem is proportionate to the intensity of pain. Also, because the brain is a more complicated organ than the heart, symptoms of strokes can also be more complex, making them harder to identify.
Incoming search terms:
- immediate action for stroke
- immediate actions for stroke
- stroke action to take
- what actions should i take for stroke
Although the negative health effects of cigarette smoking cannot be debated, it remains the single most common cause of preventable deaths. Each year, over 430,000 people die as a result of a smoking related disease. Yet, over 50 million continue to smoke, including over 3 million teens. An estimated three thousand teenagers begin to smoke each day, and one thousand of them will eventually die as a result. According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking leads to 87% of lung cancers, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Healthcare and lost productivity costs of $97.2 billion dollars per years arise from smoking related illnesses. Cigarettes contain over 19 known cancer-causing chemicals in addition to nicotine.