May 3, 2022
Mayor's Office
DATE: May 3, 2022
TO: Members of the City Council
FROM:
Tom Butt, Mayor
Subject:
Stroke Awareness Month
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
In 1989, President George H. W. Bush signed the first
National Stroke Awareness Month proclamation to
promote public awareness and reduce the incidence of
stroke in the United States, mentioning the work done by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke, the National Stroke Association, and the National Heart Association.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
PROCLAMATION declaring May 2022 as Stroke
Awareness Month in the City of Richmond – Mayor’s
Office (Mayor Tom Butt 510-620-6503).
AGENDA
REPORT
May 3, 2022
DISCUSSION:
A stroke is caused by blocked blood flow to the brain and can affect a person’s speech, movement, memory, and more and is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 800,000 strokes occurring every year.
Strokes disproportionately impact people over 65, people with a family history of strokes, African Americans, women, and people who previously had a stroke, and limited English proficiency may hamper efforts to prevent stroke in Latino communities.
Certain factors increase chances of having a stroke, such as smoking, drinking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and bad eating habits, and additional factors that may be linked to higher stroke risks include COVID-19, geographic locations, socioeconomic factors, alcohol and drug abuse, and sleep habits.
Up to 80 percent of strokes may be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle and taking advantage of preventive services such as cardiovascular disease screening, cardiovascular behavioral therapy, alcohol misuse screenings and counseling, diabetes screenings and self-management training, nutrition therapy services and obesity behavioral therapy, and counseling to prevent tobacco use and tobacco-caused disease.
It is important to know the signs of a stroke, such as weakness in the face, arm, or leg, difficulty breathing, vision loss, dizziness, and a brief loss of consciousness, and by learning and sharing the F.A.S.T. warning signs, you might just save a life from stroke (Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time to Call 911).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Proclamation