How do you identify a stroke?

Face drooping. During a stroke, one side of the face can become numb or droop. This can cause a person’s smile to appear uneven.

Arm weakness. A stroke will cause weakness in one arm or a feeling of numbness. If you ask a person who is having a stroke to raise both of their arms, one will drift downward.

Speech difficulty. Someone who is having a stroke will probably not be able to speak properly. Their words will be slurred, or it will be hard to understand them. They often will struggle to repeat a simple sentence.

Can stroke patients recover fully?

Yes, it is possible to recover completely from a stroke. Of all stroke patients, 10 percent will make a full recovery, while 25 percent will recover with minor impairments. Some patients (40 percent) will require special care due to more severe impairments, and 10 percent of individuals who had a stroke will need a nursing home or long-term care facility. Unfortunately, 15 percent of stroke patients die after their stroke.

What are some of the risk factors for heart disease?

The conventional risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and tobacco use or second hand smoke.

How prevalent is depression?

Almost 3 million Canadians have serious depression. It accounts for 30% of all disability recorded at three of Canada’s best known companies. Depression affects 10 to 15% of men and 15 to 25% of women.