Signs of Stroke: what to know for Stroke Awareness Month
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Strokes affect approximately 800,000 Americans annually. For National Stroke Awareness Month, CHRISTUS Health is helping people identify the signs of a stroke.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke, and every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies from a stroke.
Shreveport fails state water report again, city plans for improvements
'Identifying stroke symptoms and quickly dialing 911 can mean the difference between survival and death, or between complete recovery and lasting impairment,' said Alysce Parish, stroke program manager at CHRISTUS Shreveport-Bossier Health System.
A stroke, also referred to as a brain attack, is when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Stroke victims who receive care within three to four hours of the first symptoms can typically reduce or avoid major long-term disabilities.
'The sooner, the better,' Parish said.
Louisiana whooping cough cases for 2025 higher than last year's total, LDH reports
People can identify symptoms by remembering the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.:
B : Balance – Is there a sudden loss of balance or coordination?
E : Eyes – Is there sudden blurred or double vision?
F : Face – Ask the person to smile. Does one side of their face droop?
A : Arm – Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S : Speech – Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
T: Time – If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately, as time is crucial.
Those who have a stroke are more susceptible to experiencing another one, with almost 200,000 recurrent strokes happening yearly. According to CHRISTUS Health, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, and diabetes are major contributors to stroke, affecting one in three U.S. adults.
How to know if your child is suffering from allergies or has a cold
Those with atrial fibrillation are also more likely to experience more severe strokes compared to those with other risk factors.
'Life after stroke can be divided into three outcomes,' Parish said. 'One third of stroke survivors will experience a disability, another third will live normally, and the final third, unfortunately, will succumb to the stroke. This highlights the critical need to adhere to preventative measures to lower your stroke risk.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nucleus Genomics Launches Nucleus Embryo, Genetic Optimization Software Alongside Partnership with Genomic Prediction
Parents pursuing IVF now have a new level of choice to empower their family planning NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With U.S. birthrates plummeting and IVF on the rise, Nucleus Genomics today launched Nucleus Embryo, the first genetic optimization software that lets parents see and understand a complete genetic profile to select an embryo. "Before there's a heartbeat, there's DNA," said Kian Sadeghi, founder and CEO of Nucleus. "One file containing DNA and genetic markers can tell you more about your baby's future than any other test a doctor could possibly run at this stage. Most clinics stop at whether an embryo will develop. For many parents, that's not enough. Patients have long asked for more transparency from clinics, and Nucleus Embryo is an important step toward complete data ownership for parents planning their families." The software enables parents to analyze and compare up to 20 embryos across over 900 hereditary conditions and 40 additional analyses beyond basic viability, spanning cancers, chronic conditions, appearance, cognitive ability, mental health, and more. To widen access to the software, Nucleus will partner with Genomic Prediction, the first company to offer genome-wide screening on embryos. The partnership sets a new standard in genetic medicine, continuing Genomic Prediction's decade-long history of giving hopeful parents the best possible chance of implanting healthy embryos. The company's analyses focus on hereditary conditions, acting as the first line of defense against chronic and rare diseases. "As an organization, we are committed to supporting patients' rights to their DNA and any information that can aid in their family-building journey," said Kelly Ketterson, CEO of Genomic Prediction. "We have a legacy of innovation aimed at providing patients with access to the best scientific resources. Our partnership with Nucleus opens access to information our patients have requested and allows us to uphold our commitment to this legacy." Nucleus' partnership with Genomic Prediction reflects a growing shift in how parents think about genetics as a tool to give children the best possible start in life. A wide-ranging study of Americans found the majority accepted the use of genetic technology to choose embryos based on health and personality traits. Four in 10 parents would use genetic optimization as another tool to understand their future child's cognitive abilities. Most women undergo three to six IVF cycles before successfully having a baby, with each cycle costing up to $25,000. Many embryos are unviable within days of being fertilized, leaving parents with few to choose from. Facing high stakes, clinicians often recommend genetic testing to optimize a couple's chances of a healthy pregnancy. But these tests typically stop at a select number of hereditary conditions and chromosome count. Now, advanced genetic analysis from Nucleus gives parents a new window into the health and well-being of their future child. Nucleus Embryo provides a comprehensive genetic profile for each embryo, encompassing hereditary genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis and hemochromatosis, alongside genetic measures of cognitive ability, mental health, and risk for chronic diseases. Wide access to genetic insights for embryos can also help extend lifespan from the earliest stages of life. While more than half of all deaths annually in the U.S. are attributed to chronic, age-related conditions — such as Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease — research shows embryonic selection can materially help reduce disease risk for these conditions. "We celebrate health optimization and the pursuit of longevity in every other part of life via our focus on training, supplements, and sleep," Sadeghi said. "We all know health isn't just the absence of disease. It's the ability to understand our bodies and genetic makeup to reach our full potential. Now we can apply this principle to life's inception." About Nucleus Genomics Nucleus builds software for generational health. Inspired by the loss of his cousin who died of a rare — yet preventable — genetic disease, Nucleus founder and Thiel Fellow Kian Sadeghi left an Ivy League university to build a product that could have saved her life. Our advanced DNA health test and analysis takes the guesswork out of your health, whether it's perfecting your protocols, knowing your risk for cancer, or planning for a healthy family. Follow us on social media @nucleusgenomics. About Genomic Prediction Genomic Prediction, Inc. is the frontrunner in advanced embryo screening. Our proprietary LifeView platform is state-of-the-art technology that assesses embryos for genetic health aimed at improved IVF outcomes. The LifeView Embryo Health Score Test (EHS) offers insight into the likelihood of developing conditions driven by multiple genes. It tests for significant health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, certain cancers, and mental health conditions. The EHS results are derived from the same embryo sample used in the following PGT tests: PGT-A: Identifies chromosome abnormalities in embryos. PGT-A+: Pinpoints the origin (paternal, maternal, or embryonic) of chromosome abnormalities. PGT-M: Decreases the chances of passing on monogenic (single-gene) conditions. PGT-SR: Detects chromosome abnormalities and structural imbalances, providing clarity between normal and balanced chromosomes. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Nucleus
Newsweek
5 hours ago
- Newsweek
Egg Recall Map Shows Warnings Issued to Customers in 9 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. August Egg Company has issued a recall on Friday for 1,700,000 brown cage-free and certified organic brown eggs due to potential fears of salmonella. Newsweek reached out to the company after hours via phone Friday night for comment. Why It Matters Numerous recalls have been initiated this year due to the potential for the following: damaged products, foodborne illness, contamination and undeclared food allergens. Millions of Americans experience food sensitivities or food allergies every year. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nine "major" food allergens in the U.S. are eggs, milk, fish, wheat, soybeans, Crustacean shellfish, sesame, tree nuts and peanuts. The FDA warns that salmonella is an organism that could cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in frail or older people, young children and those with weakened immune systems. What To Know The FDA says in its alert that some of the eggs were distributed to grocery stores including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs. Those eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 15, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 4, 2025, in both California and Nevada. The FDA says additional eggs were distributed from February 3, 2025, to May 6, 2025, with sell by dates of March 4, 2025, and June 19, 2025, in Walmart stores in Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Wyoming. The plant code numbers for the recalled eggs can be found printed on the package and are P-6562 or CA5330 with Julian Dates from 32 to 126, the FDA says. The Julian Dates are codes of three to seven digits and represent the date that the food was packaged or manufactured. "This recall is associated with an ongoing outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses" the alert says, adding the investigation is related to products distributed in the nine states. The FDA alert also has a chart of the Julian Dates with corresponding item names. What People Are Saying The FDA alert, in part: "August Egg Company is not selling fresh shell eggs at this time. Our firm has voluntarily been diverting eggs to an egg-breaking plant for over 30 days, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any potential foodborne pathogens." August Egg Company in the FDA alert: "August Egg Company of Hilmar, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,700,000 dozen shell eggs processed at our California plant and sold to various grocery customers. This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella enteritidis contamination, which poses a health risk. With that in mind, we believe it is appropriate out of an abundance of caution to conduct this voluntary recall, as consumers may still have these eggs in their homes. "It is important to know that when our processing plant identified this concern, we immediately began diverting all eggs from the plant to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurizes the eggs and kills any pathogens. "August Egg Company's internal food safety team also is conducting its own stringent review to identify what measures can be established to prevent this situation from recurring. We are committed to addressing this matter fully and to implementing all necessary corrective actions to ensure this does not happen again." What Happens Next Customers with additional questions can call August Egg Company at 1-800-710-2554 from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT and can also return the eggs to the original place of purchase for a refund.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michiganders unite for veterans at Lansing rally
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — June 6 marks the anniversary of one of the largest seaborne invasions in history—D-Day, and in its honor, hundreds of Michiganders rallied in support of veterans who they say are facing an unprecedented attack on their benefits by the Trump administration. The event was hosted by several groups to help defend veterans from a series of cuts that they say could impact their benefits and livelihoods, as the Trump administration plans to slash about 80,000 jobs to reorganize the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of these workers specialize in healthcare and other various services. Retired veterans, husband and wife Jerry and Dale Blunk are fighting back in hopes of change. 'The benefits I get keep me alive,' said Jerry Blunk. 'When you get hit with something, like you need a heart transplant or change an organ or some kind of operation, I can't afford that, except for the VA.' Jerry and his wife both go to the VA office in Saginaw for their medical and health needs. VA Secretary Doug Collins has defended the upcoming cuts, claiming they would not impact veterans' health care or benefits, but Dale Blunk says she's already seeing a shift. 'There's already been a slowdown to the number of appointments that there are,' said Dale Blunk. 'Lab times, getting stuff done, surgeries being done. All that is starting to slow down, and they've hardly even started the firing.' Dale says she feels that the cuts will lead to the VA becoming privatized, which she believes could result in higher costs for taxpaying Americans. Kurt Shanks, a retired Navy submarine veteran, says that although he hasn't had to use his benefits, he still wants to defend his fellow servicemen and women from losing something they've fought so hard to get. 'I had the safety of a submarine hull,' said Shanks. 'Yeah, we had our share of fun and danger, but nothing like the people out there who are truly risking their lives, and America owes them everything.' As the clock counts down on the VA cuts, Jerry Blunk fears his benefits could be on the chopping block. 'They may come along and say, 'Okay, we're gonna take the top 20% of the oldest retirees, and kick them the hell off the list,' said Jerry Blunk. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
