May is American Stroke Month. It’s on the calendar every year, and for good reason. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. The odds of any of us having one at some point in our lifetime are far too high. And the disease has already cost us way too much.
That’s why taxpayers, pharmaceutical companies and other vested parties have spent billions of dollars researching stroke in recent years. And it’s why the month of May is reserved for building awareness, not to mention soliciting a few donations here and there.
To help contribute to the cause, WalletHub went looking for statistics and factoids to illustrate the gravity of the situation and encourage people to adopt healthier habits. In the following infographic, you call learn about everything from the toll stroke takes on families and the economy to why BE FAST is an acronym to remember.
Ask the Experts: Stroke Awareness
For more information about a disease that many people are unfamiliar with, we posed the following questions to a panel of healthcare professionals. You can find their bios and responses below.
- What are the signs that someone might be having a stroke? What actions should be taken after calling for help?
- What steps can someone take today to help reduce the risk of having a stroke?
- What is driving the projected increase in the number of Americans having a stroke?
Ask the Experts
- Pooja Khatri
Professor of Neurology and Director of Acute Stroke Research at University of Cincinnati
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- Karen L. Saban
Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the Marcella Niehoff School Of Nursing at Loyola University Chicago
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- Justin A. Sattin
Associate Professor and Residency Program Director in the Department of Neurology and Medical Director of the UWHealth Comprehensive Stroke Program at University of Wisconsin - Madison
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- Jennifer G Robinson
Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Medicine and Director of the Prevention Intervention Center at University of Iowa
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- Holli A. DeVon
Professor of Biobehavioral Health Sciences in the College of Nursing at University of Illinois at Chicago
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- Gina Lundberg
Clinical Director of the Emory Women's Heart Center and Associate Professor of Medicine in the School of Medicine at Emory University
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