February is American Heart Month

Belleville, Ill. – Jan. 30, 2012 –February is American Heart Month, and National Stroke Association has tools and information that can help you take care of your heart and reduce your risk of stroke. Allsup, a nationwide Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) representation company, works with thousands of heart attack and stroke survivors each year, and recognizes the importance of raising heart health awareness. 

 

Allsup has pledged to be one in a million hearts in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Million Hearts Campaign. The goal of the campaign is to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.

 

A stroke, sometimes referred to as a “brain attack,” occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. These clots can be caused by problems with your heart, arteries and veins, or the blood, which flows through them. Fatty deposits caused by a hardening or buildup of cholesterol plaque can block the arteries that carry blood from your heart to your brain. This kind of blockage, if left untreated, can cause stroke.

 

One of the major risk factors for stroke is atrial fibrillation (Afib), a condition where your heart beats irregularly. Afib is commonly associated with coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy and high blood pressure. People who have Afib are five times more likely to have a stroke, and about one in six strokes are caused by Afib.  Other risk factors for stroke are similar to those for heart attacks and include:

“The link between Afib and stroke is too serious to be ignored by patients who can be effectively treated to prevent a future stroke,” said Jim Baranski, CEO, National Stroke Association. “We want people to be empowered with the knowledge they need to take charge of their health. That’s why National Stroke Association is proud to partner with Allsup in a shared dedication to educating the at-risk general public and stroke survivors about Afib and other stroke risk factors that can be controlled.”

 

You can gauge your personal stroke risk using the National Stroke Association’s “Stroke Risk Scorecard.” According to the association, up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. You can learn how to lower your risk by following their stroke prevention guidelines and talking with a healthcare professional about steps you can take to prevent stroke.

 

Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the U.S. For information on Social Security Disability Insurance for individuals who can no longer work, the National Stroke Association and Allsup developed the brochure Stroke and SSDI, available to download or order at www.stroke.org.

 

Celebrate American Heart Month this February by taking advantage of the programs, tools and information National Stroke Association provides. You may be one in a million hearts.

 

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Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare plan selection services. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs more than 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, visit http://www.Allsup.com.

 

National Stroke Association is the only national organization in the U.S. that focuses 100 percent of its efforts on stroke through education and programs focused on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for all impacted by stroke. Founded in 1984, the organization works every day to meet its mission to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke. Learn more at www.stroke.org.