More than 7 million Americans have had a stroke, and someone has a stroke every 40 seconds. A stroke can happen to anyone at any time.

MADISON, WI – Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) offered the weekly Democratic radio address Thursday. 

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here: 
http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen16/millerradio051718.mp3

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hello, this is Senator Mark Miller with this week’s democratic radio address.

“May is stroke awareness month. It is important to know the signs so you can help in an emergency. According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is a leading cause of death and a leading cause of preventable disability. More than 7 million Americans have had a stroke. Someone has a stroke every 40 seconds. A stroke can happen to anyone at any time.

“Prevention starts with awareness. High blood pressure is the most common controllable cause of stroke. Recent guidelines have redefined high blood pressure as a reading of 130/80. Over half of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

“Awareness includes learning the FAST (F.A.S.T) warning signs. F for face drooping, A for arm weakness, S for speech difficulty and T is time to call 911. Knowing the FAST warning signs could save someone’s life. The faster stroke is treated, the more likely the patient is to recover. In fact, according to the Stroke Association, patients treated with clot-busting drugs within 90 minutes of their first symptoms were almost three times more likely to recover with little or no disability. Getting the right treatment as quickly as possible is key. Urgency and action can make a difference.

“For more information and resources, check out StrokeAssociation.org/StrokeMonth.”