FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2009
DHEC urges South Carolinians to be aware of the risks and signs of stroke
COLUMBIA – May is American Stroke Month and High Blood Pressure Awareness Month, so the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control urges South Carolinians to learn stroke risk factors and recognize the warning signs of stroke.
“South Carolina has the fifth highest stroke death rate in the nation, which is an improvement from years of having been number one or two in the nation,” said Dory Masters, director of DHEC’s Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division. “But more improvement is possible. Stroke risk factors that can be controlled or eliminated include high blood pressure, smoking, obesity, and excessive alcohol or salt use.
“We’ve known for years that a diet high in salt increases a person’s risk for high blood pressure, but a new study by the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that salt usage is very high in America,” Masters said. “The estimated average sodium intake for adults was 3,436 milligrams (mg) per day – more than double the recommended maximum of 1,500 mg/day for most adults.
“About one in three adults in South Carolina has high blood pressure, so salt is something each of us can control to reduce the risks to our health from stroke or high blood pressure,” Masters said. “People can also improve their blood pressure and overall health by choosing to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, asking that foods be prepared without added salt and by reading food nutrition labels and making purchasing decisions accordingly.”
Masters advises that you call 9-1-1 immediately - do not delay - if any of the following five stroke signs suddenly occur – even if the symptoms subside or go away:
- Walk – is balance off?
- Talk – is speech slurred or face droopy?
- Reach – is one side weak or numb?
- See – is vision all or partially lost?
- Feel – is headache severe?
For more information on heart disease and stroke, visit DHEC’s Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/hdsp.
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Note to editors and reporters:
DHEC's Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Division works with community partners and health care systems to improve the cardiovascular health and quality of life of South Carolinians through the prevention, detection and treatment of risk factors; early identification and treatment of cardiovascular diseases; and prevention of recurrent cardiovascular events.
For media inquiries:
Betsy Crick – (803) 545-4496
E-mail – crickec@dhec.sc.gov
or
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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