The prevalence of stroke occurrence in the United States continues to raise concerns. In addition, ignoring stroke signs and symptoms is an area of growing concern.

According to a scientific statement released earlier this year by the American Stroke Association/American Heart Association (ASA/AHA), stroke symptoms that disappear in under an hour, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), are often ignored, but need emergency assessment to help prevent a full-blown stroke.

A TIA is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain. Each year, about 240,000 people in the United States experience a TIA, although this estimate may be low because symptoms tend to go away within an hour and patients may not report them. While the TIA itself doesn’t cause permanent damage, nearly one in five of patients who have a TIA will have a full-blown stroke within three months after the TIA, and almost half of those will happen within two days. For this reason, a TIA is more accurately described as a warning stroke rather than a “mini-stroke,” as it’s often called.

Throughout the month of May, healthcare organizations across the country focus on public health messages aimed at educating individuals that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable in alignment with American Stroke Month. Anyone can be at risk for a stroke, and a TIA can serve as a warning of a future stroke or the opportunity to prevent one. Managing your stress can help you stabilize your blood pressure and may reduce your risk for stroke. Practicing good health habits and staying active can also decrease your risk.

TIA risk increases for those with:

• High cholesterol: A TIA often results from a buildup of cholesterol-containing fatty deposits in an artery or one of its branches causing blockage of oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Working to lower your cholesterol through diet changes, lifestyle changes and exercise can decrease your risk for a TIA and stroke significantly.

• Diabetes: The likelihood of a stroke in those with diabetes is nearly double for patients who do not have diabetes. Talk with your doctor about the safest way to treat diabetes to prevent a TIA or a stroke from occurring.

• A history of stroke: In the United States, about one-fourth of the nearly 800,000 strokes that occur each year are recurrent events. Individuals who have previously suffered a stroke are at a higher risk of experiencing a TIA.

To reduce your risk for a TIA, know your blood pressure and take steps to keep it in a healthy range. Learn how to properly measure your blood pressure at home and talk to your doctor about your numbers. Learn how to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. – If you see Face drooping, Arm weakness or Speech difficulty, it’s Time to call 9-1-1. Talk to your doctor about ways to improve your well-being and help prevent stroke.

Should a stroke affect you or a loved one, education is key in restoring function, hope and quality of life. At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral, our rehabilitation teams provide the latest stroke programs, featuring state-of-the-art technologies and experts who specialize in helping patients achieve individual rehabilitation goals required for them to return to the community. The challenges of stroke are real. But, together, we can help save lives by continuing to promote stroke education.

Michelle Fitzgerald, AHA/ASA Southwest Florida Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral