“I feel a sense of sadness and joy. Mostly sadness though about what I've experienced and sadness about what others have experienced in reference to the stroke.” — Luther Vandross

May kicked off National Stroke Prevention Month. Stroke is still the third leading cause of death in our county, so it is important to take the time to revisit and relearn important stroke symptoms. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, causing damage to a part of the brain. A stroke is also sometimes called a brain attack.

Some conditions as well as some lifestyle factors can put people at a higher risk for stroke. The most important risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Persons who have already had a stroke need to control the risk factors in order to lower their risk of having another stroke. Everyone can take steps to lower their risk for stroke.

Some interesting stroke facts include:

— Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over 143,579 people die each year from stroke in the United States.

— Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.

— About 795,000 strokes occur in the United States each year. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes. About 185,000 occur in people who have already had a stroke before.

— Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65. The risk of having a stroke more than doubles each decade after the age of 55.

— Strokes can — and do — occur at any age. Nearly one quarter of strokes occur in people under the age of 65.

— Stroke death rates are higher for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages.

— According to the American Heart Association, stroke will cost almost $68.9 billion in both direct and indirect costs in 2009.

— It has been noted for several decades that the Southeastern United States has the highest stroke mortality rates in the country.

Some of the most important treatable risk factors for stroke are:

— High blood pressure. Also called hypertension, this is by far the most potent risk factor for stroke. If your blood pressure is high, you and your doctor need to work out an individual strategy to bring it down to the normal range.

— Cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking has been linked to the buildup of fatty substances in the carotid artery, the main neck artery supplying blood to the brain.

— Heart disease. Common heart disorders such as coronary artery disease, valve defects, irregular heart beat, and enlargement of one of the heart's chambers can result in blood clots that may break loose and block vessels in or leading to the brain. The most common blood vessel disease, caused by the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, is called atherosclerosis.

— Warning signs or history of stroke. Many communities encourage those with stroke's warning signs to dial 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you have had a stroke in the past, it's important to reduce your risk of a second stroke.

— Diabetes. You may think this disorder affects only the body's ability to use sugar, or glucose. But it also causes destructive changes in the blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain.

Knowing the symptoms of are important. They include:

— Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg — especially on one side of the body.

— Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

— Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

— Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

— Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Prevention and knowing the signs and symptoms of stoke are the keys to reducing the risk of stroke.