May is National Stroke Awareness Month. It is an important opportunity to foster education of the public and health care providers, which is a key component of stroke management. Awareness hastens recognition and optimized management.
Clinicians can take part in public health initiatives by educating patients about the following signs and symptoms of acute stroke:
1. Walk; Is their balance off? 2. Talk; Is their speech slurred or face droopy? 3. Reach; Is one side weak or numb? 4. See; Is their vision all or partly lost? 5. Feel; Is their headache severe?
This month, public education campaigns, through mechanisms such as billboard and mass transit advertisement, will be heightened, and can be used as additional tools for patient education.
