National Stroke Awareness Month
Aspirus Health Delivers Critical Stroke Care When Seconds Matter
5/12/2025
Dr. Fareed Suri, Aspirus St. Luke’s Stroke Program Medical Director
Every 40 seconds,
someone in the United States has a stroke—and every three minutes and 11
seconds, someone dies from one, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
That’s why Aspirus
Health is recognizing National Stroke Awareness Month, an annual observance
held each May to raise awareness about stroke risk factors, symptoms,
prevention, and treatment, and to support those affected by stroke. The month
is dedicated to increasing public understanding and encouraging quick action
when a stroke happens.
A stroke occurs when
blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by a blockage or a rupture in a
blood vessel, causing brain cells to die. Quick treatment is critical.
“When a blood vessel
is clogged, it is getting a collateral blood flow from other smaller blood
vessels, but that collateral blood flow is not robust enough to keep it alive
for a long period of time,” explained Aspirus
St. Luke’s Stroke Program Medical Director Dr. Fareed Suri. "The
sooner we open up the main blood vessel, the sooner we are able to restore the
blood flow, the more we are able to save the brain.” The sooner we open up the
main blood vessel, the sooner we are able to restore the blood flow, the more
we are able to save the brain.”
Common stroke
symptoms include:
Balance – Sudden
loss of coordination or balance
Eyes – Sudden change
in vision
Face – Facial droop
or weakness on one side
Arm – Sudden
weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
Speech – Slurred
speech or trouble understanding speech
Terrible Headache –
A sudden, severe headache
Major risk factors
for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and
smoking.
Aspirus Health is
proud to offer certified stroke care at multiple locations, including Stroke
Centers in Duluth and Wausau. To learn more about stroke warning signs,
prevention, and treatment, visit Aspirus.org/StrokeCare.
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