UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Stroke Awareness Month: Patient Education & Managing Risk Factors

Category: Neurology

Keywords: stroke, stroke awareness month, stroke risk factors, patient education (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/12/2010 by Aisha Liferidge, MD (Updated: 11/21/2024)
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  • May is Stroke Awareness Month;  Health care provider and patient education about how to prevent stroke is at least as important as treating it with cutting-edge therapies.
  • Studies have shown that up to 80% of strokes could be prevented through recognition and management of risk factors, lifestyle changes, and compliance with recurrent stroke prevention treatments.
  • Even in the emergency department, the opportunity to educate patients about the following stroke risk factors should be seized when possible:

              --  Hypertension                        

              --  Diabetes

              --  Atrial Fibrillation

              --  Hypercholesterolemia

              --  Physical Inactivity

              --  Tobacco Use

              --  Alcohol Use

              --  Obesity

 

References