Latest news with #StrokeAwarenessMonth
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who survived a stroke in his 40s says it was caused by a 'seemingly harmless' turn of the head: 'Awareness is survival'
Carmi Levy was enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day in 2013 when a seemingly harmless turn of the neck caused a tear in his artery. Later that evening, he became paralyzed on one side and unable to speak clearly. Levy's wife — recognizing he was having a stroke — had their kids call 9-1-1 immediately. 'I probably wouldn't be here today if my wife hadn't known what was happening right when I collapsed,' Levy says. 'She knew about FAST from her training as a teacher, and she routinely discussed it at home so we were prepared if we suspected a stroke.' This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. This article was originally published in 2024. Many people aren't as lucky as Levy whose wife knew the critical importance of calling for medical help without delay. In the months after his stroke, he had many conversations with stroke survivors who had brushed off their symptoms and refused offers of medical assistance. Fears of long wait times at the ER even led one victim to ignore their partner's pleas to call 9-1-1. 'You should never fear a wasted trip to the hospital,' says Levy. 'It's better to be safe now than sorry later. With something as irreversible as a stroke, you don't want to take that risk.' June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada. Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Canada, with one stroke occurring roughly every five minutes. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, approximately one million Canadians are living with stroke, with 108,000 strokes occurring each year. Knowing the signs of stroke can help increase your chances of a better recovery and even save your or someone else's life. Heart & Stroke launched its FAST campaign in 2014 to provide people with a simple tool for recognizing the most common signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away. Since the introduction of FAST 10 years ago, awareness has greatly increased, with a 2024 showing the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. However, new data reveals that only seven out of 10 Canadians know what a stroke can look like. According to Katie White, director of health systems at Heart & Stroke, reducing the time between the onset of stroke and arrival at a hospital can mean the difference between life and death, and also lower the chance of a lifelong disability. 'Anyone witnessing or experiencing the signs of stroke should call 9-1-1 or local emergency medical services (EMS) right away,' White tells Yahoo Canada. 'Lifesaving treatment begins the second you make that call." While awareness of FAST has increased, there are still gaps, with Heart and Stroke's poll showing disparities depending on gender, age, place of birth and race or ethnicity. "Many ethnically diverse communities are less likely to be familiar with the FAST signs of stroke," says White. 'We don't know for sure why these differences exist, but we're exploring targeted strategies to address these inequities.' This includes translating FAST materials into multiple languages and developing toolkits specifically for First Nations communities. The poll also showed that older Canadians are more familiar with the signs of stroke and more likely to take action, perhaps due to the belief that only older adults can be affected by stroke. As a stroke survivor in his 40s, Levy is no stranger to this misconception. 'At least one member of my medical team said she was surprised to see someone so young and healthy present as a stroke victim,' he says. 'There were a lot of raised eyebrows and a lot of discussion around the root cause of my stroke, because of my age.' White says that with three out of 10 Canadians unable to recognize the most common signs of stroke, there's still a lot of work to do. 'There are still not enough Canadians who recognize the signs and know to call 9-1-1 right away if they witness or experience them,' she says. Levy's experience underscores the importance of stroke awareness for everyone, regardless of age or health status. "I never had 'stroke' on my bingo card before it happened to me," he reflects. "I realize how easily things could have gone the other way if I hadn't been surrounded by a family that knew what to look for – and what to do when they saw it.' 'If so much as one person hears my story, learns, and acts, then that's everything to me,' he adds. 'Awareness is survival.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who survived a stroke in his 40s says it was caused by a 'seemingly harmless' turn of the head: 'Awareness is survival'
Carmi Levy was enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day in 2013 when a seemingly harmless turn of the neck caused a tear in his artery. Later that evening, he became paralyzed on one side and unable to speak clearly. Levy's wife — recognizing he was having a stroke — had their kids call 9-1-1 immediately. 'I probably wouldn't be here today if my wife hadn't known what was happening right when I collapsed,' Levy says. 'She knew about FAST from her training as a teacher, and she routinely discussed it at home so we were prepared if we suspected a stroke.' This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. This article was originally published in 2024. Many people aren't as lucky as Levy whose wife knew the critical importance of calling for medical help without delay. In the months after his stroke, he had many conversations with stroke survivors who had brushed off their symptoms and refused offers of medical assistance. Fears of long wait times at the ER even led one victim to ignore their partner's pleas to call 9-1-1. 'You should never fear a wasted trip to the hospital,' says Levy. 'It's better to be safe now than sorry later. With something as irreversible as a stroke, you don't want to take that risk.' June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada. Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Canada, with one stroke occurring roughly every five minutes. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, approximately one million Canadians are living with stroke, with 108,000 strokes occurring each year. Knowing the signs of stroke can help increase your chances of a better recovery and even save your or someone else's life. Heart & Stroke launched its FAST campaign in 2014 to provide people with a simple tool for recognizing the most common signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away. Since the introduction of FAST 10 years ago, awareness has greatly increased, with a 2024 showing the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. However, new data reveals that only seven out of 10 Canadians know what a stroke can look like. According to Katie White, director of health systems at Heart & Stroke, reducing the time between the onset of stroke and arrival at a hospital can mean the difference between life and death, and also lower the chance of a lifelong disability. 'Anyone witnessing or experiencing the signs of stroke should call 9-1-1 or local emergency medical services (EMS) right away,' White tells Yahoo Canada. 'Lifesaving treatment begins the second you make that call." While awareness of FAST has increased, there are still gaps, with Heart and Stroke's poll showing disparities depending on gender, age, place of birth and race or ethnicity. "Many ethnically diverse communities are less likely to be familiar with the FAST signs of stroke," says White. 'We don't know for sure why these differences exist, but we're exploring targeted strategies to address these inequities.' This includes translating FAST materials into multiple languages and developing toolkits specifically for First Nations communities. The poll also showed that older Canadians are more familiar with the signs of stroke and more likely to take action, perhaps due to the belief that only older adults can be affected by stroke. As a stroke survivor in his 40s, Levy is no stranger to this misconception. 'At least one member of my medical team said she was surprised to see someone so young and healthy present as a stroke victim,' he says. 'There were a lot of raised eyebrows and a lot of discussion around the root cause of my stroke, because of my age.' White says that with three out of 10 Canadians unable to recognize the most common signs of stroke, there's still a lot of work to do. 'There are still not enough Canadians who recognize the signs and know to call 9-1-1 right away if they witness or experience them,' she says. Awareness is survivalCarmi Levy Levy's experience underscores the importance of stroke awareness for everyone, regardless of age or health status. "I never had 'stroke' on my bingo card before it happened to me," he reflects. "I realize how easily things could have gone the other way if I hadn't been surrounded by a family that knew what to look for – and what to do when they saw it.' 'If so much as one person hears my story, learns, and acts, then that's everything to me,' he adds. 'Awareness is survival.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man who survived a stroke in his 40s says it was caused by a 'seemingly harmless' turn of the head: 'Awareness is survival'
Carmi Levy was enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day in 2013 when a seemingly harmless turn of the neck caused a tear in his artery. Later that evening, he became paralyzed on one side and unable to speak clearly. Levy's wife — recognizing he was having a stroke — had their kids call 9-1-1 immediately. 'I probably wouldn't be here today if my wife hadn't known what was happening right when I collapsed,' Levy says. 'She knew about FAST from her training as a teacher, and she routinely discussed it at home so we were prepared if we suspected a stroke.' This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. This article was originally published in 2024. Many people aren't as lucky as Levy whose wife knew the critical importance of calling for medical help without delay. In the months after his stroke, he had many conversations with stroke survivors who had brushed off their symptoms and refused offers of medical assistance. Fears of long wait times at the ER even led one victim to ignore their partner's pleas to call 9-1-1. 'You should never fear a wasted trip to the hospital,' says Levy. 'It's better to be safe now than sorry later. With something as irreversible as a stroke, you don't want to take that risk.' June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada. Stroke is a leading cause of adult disability in Canada, with one stroke occurring roughly every five minutes. According to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, approximately one million Canadians are living with stroke, with 108,000 strokes occurring each year. Knowing the signs of stroke can help increase your chances of a better recovery and even save your or someone else's life. Heart & Stroke launched its FAST campaign in 2014 to provide people with a simple tool for recognizing the most common signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away. Since the introduction of FAST 10 years ago, awareness has greatly increased, with a 2024 showing the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. However, new data reveals that only seven out of 10 Canadians know what a stroke can look like. According to Katie White, director of health systems at Heart & Stroke, reducing the time between the onset of stroke and arrival at a hospital can mean the difference between life and death, and also lower the chance of a lifelong disability. 'Anyone witnessing or experiencing the signs of stroke should call 9-1-1 or local emergency medical services (EMS) right away,' White tells Yahoo Canada. 'Lifesaving treatment begins the second you make that call." While awareness of FAST has increased, there are still gaps, with Heart and Stroke's poll showing disparities depending on gender, age, place of birth and race or ethnicity. "Many ethnically diverse communities are less likely to be familiar with the FAST signs of stroke," says White. 'We don't know for sure why these differences exist, but we're exploring targeted strategies to address these inequities.' This includes translating FAST materials into multiple languages and developing toolkits specifically for First Nations communities. The poll also showed that older Canadians are more familiar with the signs of stroke and more likely to take action, perhaps due to the belief that only older adults can be affected by stroke. As a stroke survivor in his 40s, Levy is no stranger to this misconception. 'At least one member of my medical team said she was surprised to see someone so young and healthy present as a stroke victim,' he says. 'There were a lot of raised eyebrows and a lot of discussion around the root cause of my stroke, because of my age.' White says that with three out of 10 Canadians unable to recognize the most common signs of stroke, there's still a lot of work to do. 'There are still not enough Canadians who recognize the signs and know to call 9-1-1 right away if they witness or experience them,' she says. Awareness is survivalCarmi Levy Levy's experience underscores the importance of stroke awareness for everyone, regardless of age or health status. "I never had 'stroke' on my bingo card before it happened to me," he reflects. "I realize how easily things could have gone the other way if I hadn't been surrounded by a family that knew what to look for – and what to do when they saw it.' 'If so much as one person hears my story, learns, and acts, then that's everything to me,' he adds. 'Awareness is survival.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ask A Specialist: National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month
HONOLULU (KHON2) — June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, when millions of migraine sufferers are offered a better understanding of this disease and the treatment options available to them. A migraine is a complex neurological condition stemming from the brain. It affects 39 million people in America and up to a billion people worldwide. Ask A Specialist: Stroke Awareness Month 'It is so common, yet so misunderstood. So, we're working really hard to help patients, their families, even people in healthcare understand what a migraine is,' said Dr. Karen Morgenshtern-Yacoby, Headache Neurologist at The Queen's Medical Center. 'Even though a headache is the most recognizable symptom of a migraine, migraine is so much more than just a headache.' People can experience nausea, vomiting, light and sound sensitivity, irritability, fatigue, even dizziness. Vision changes, numbness, or weakness on one side of the body and trouble speaking. 'There is no specific diagnostic test for migraines. It's diagnosed clinically where you go in and discuss it with your doctor. Your physician will want to know all of your symptoms, both pain and non-pain symptoms, your past medical history, any medications you're taking, family history, your lifestyle, they'll ask about your habits. They'll do a physical exam and then all of this together will help doctors diagnose,' said Dr. Morgenshtern-Yacoby. 'I really encourage patients to keep a headache log or a symptom log. You can keep track of how many days a month you're having these symptoms. Did you take any treatments, did they work, did anything trigger them? So, keep track and bring it to your doctor.' There are many new treatment options available, although there is no specific cure currently for migraines. 'So, we focus our treatment on both treating attacks when they come on, as well as preventing attacks from coming on. The most common way people think about it – 'Oh, I get a migraine attack, I take my medication, and I help it go away.' That can work really well if that person isn't having that many attacks,' said Dr. if you are having many attacks and take the medication too often, that can be a problem. 'So, both prescription and over-the-counter medication, if you take them too often and they're meant to be as needed, people can get more headaches in the long run. We call that a rebound headache or medication overuse headache. So once that starts happening, we recommend preventive treatment, and that can be many different styles of treatment,' according to Morgenshtern-Yacoby. They include lifestyle changes, supplements such as magnesium. 'And if those don't work, we have prescription medications, injection therapies and neuro-modulation devices. I recommend you really check back with your provider to see if there's anything that can work for you,' said Morgenshtern-Yacoby. To learn more about the services offered by the Queen's Neuroscience Institute, visit their website at or call them at 808-691-8866. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Via Christi: Brain imaging technology could extend stroke treatment window
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — May is Stroke Awareness Month, an opportunity to highlight the risk factors and preventive measures. Many are familiar with F.A.S.T., which shows that the warning signs of face drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulty mean it's time to call 911. But what happens after recognizing the signs can also be key to recovery. Researchers at Via Christi are working to break through a 'four and a half' hour window for treatment. Traditionally, clot busters are administered within that window, and after that, doctors focus on supportive measures for patient care. Stroke Awareness Month: Recognizing stroke symptoms can help save lives Via Christi is collaborating with Wichita State University to potentially treat patients beyond the current window of opportunity using brain imaging technology. 'Patients who have had a stroke, well actually if they decide to participate in the study, we can look at whether or not some of the brain flow that we see during therapy can help us move that patient faster in the rehabilitation,' Tony Sadler, a certified physician assistant at Via Christi Research, said. She also says it's essential to be fast in response to a stroke, as thousands of brain cells are dying during a stroke. You can learn more about the signs of stroke and how to take steps to prevent one at an event this weekend. Via Christi is hosting a free seminar at the Evergreen Community Center and Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a heart-healthy lunch included. There will be resources available in both English and Spanish. Call 316-303-8042 to reserve your seat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
