How do you identify a stroke?
Face drooping. During a stroke, one side of the face can become numb or
droop. This can cause a person’s smile to appear uneven.
Arm weakness. A stroke will cause weakness in one arm or a feeling of
numbness. If you ask a person who is having a stroke to raise both of
their arms, one will drift downward.
Speech difficulty. Someone who is having a stroke will probably not be
able to speak properly. Their words will be slurred, or it will be hard
to understand them. They often will struggle to repeat a simple
sentence.
Can stroke patients recover fully?
Yes, it is possible to recover completely from a stroke. Of all stroke
patients, 10 percent will
make a full recovery, while 25 percent will recover with minor
impairments. Some patients (40
percent) will require special care due to more severe impairments, and
10 percent of individuals
who had a stroke will need a nursing home or long-term care facility.
Unfortunately, 15 percent
of stroke patients die after their stroke.
What are some of the risk factors for heart disease?
The conventional risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, obesity, diabetes, and tobacco use or second hand smoke.
How prevalent is depression?
Almost 3 million Canadians have serious depression. It accounts for 30% of all disability
recorded at three of Canada’s best known companies. Depression affects 10 to 15% of men and
15 to 25% of women.