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CA NEWS
High blood pressure and stroke: know the symptoms and risk factors
Submitted by Sandy Kienitz, Emergency Management Committee
High blood pressure – Being overweight or obese. to the brain due to blocked or narrowed
(HBP) occurs when the blood vessels, account for 87 percent of
force of blood pushing – Eating too much salt and/or saturated strokes . Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)
against the sides of your fat. are similar to ischemic strokes except
arteries is consistently blood flow to the brain is only blocked
within a high range. This can cause – A lack of physical activity. for a short period of time – typically less
stroke, heart attack, heart failure or than five minutes. Hemorrhagic strokes
kidney failure. – Excessive alcohol use. occur when an artery in the brain leaks
or ruptures. Caused by weakened arterial
Two numbers represent blood pressure. – Tobacco use. walls, hemorrhagic strokes account for 13
The first number, known as systolic blood percent of strokes.
pressure, indicates the pressure against – Consistently high stress levels.
your artery walls during heart beats. Strokes cause brain damage, disability
The second number, called diastolic blood HBP can be controlled with treatment and even death. If you or someone you
pressure, represents the pressure within by prescribed medications, healthy diet, know is having a stroke, call 911.
your artery walls when the heart is resting physical activity, monitoring your blood
between beats. pressure and routine doctor visits. F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the
sudden signs of a stroke:
A blood pressure reading of less than Because consistently elevated blood
120/80 is normal for adults. A blood pressure levels damage and weaken the – F – Face drooping or numbness; uneven
pressure reading of 140/90 or above is walls of your blood vessels, uncontrolled smile.
high blood pressure. high blood pressure puts a person at a
much higher risk of suffering a stroke. – A – One arm weakness or numbness;
Symptoms of HBP can be severe headaches, Other risk factors for stroke include: unable to raise arm.
dizziness and irregular heartbeats. One
in three adults have HBP and may not – High cholesterol. – S – Speech difficulty, such as slurring
have symptoms. or loss of speech ability.
– Heart disease.
Several factors can put you at a higher – T – Check the time when symptoms
risk for developing HBP: – Diabetes. first began appearing, then make your
minutes count by calling 911! Even if
– Family history of HBP. Stroke is a cerebrovascular disease (CVD), symptoms subside, get the victim to the
meaning it affects the circulation within hospital immediately.
– Age 35 years or older. the brain. It is the fifth leading cause of
death for older adults in the United States, February is Cardiovascular and Stroke
– Diabetes. with two thirds of strokes occurring in Awareness Month.
persons aged 65 or older.
There are three main types of stroke.
Ischemic strokes, caused by a loss of blood
Sun City Texas’ Citizens on Patrol (COPs), Part 2
by Larry Swim, chairman, COPs – Perform requested welfare checks when implied authority because of our marked
it seems that a resident may have been cars and uniforms. This is an important
Who are the Sun City Texas COPs? inactive for too long. factor that’s keeping our community
safer. Naturally, when larger problems
Short answer: your friends and neighbors. – In the event of an accident or breakdown arise, COPs call the Georgetown Police
on the roadways, secure the scene until Department (GPD).
Longer answer: COPs are volunteers who the police arrive.
want to give back to their community. GPD Assistance Numbers
– Assist when memory-impaired persons
We are a diverse group. Some COPs are wander away from home. Non-emergency number: 512-930-3510
retired members of law enforcement or
firefighters. Others have had careers What don’t the Sun City Texas COPs Emergency: always dial 911
in varied businesses or government do?
organizations. Needless to say, levels Become a Sun City COP! Volunteer
of training vary as well as members’ COPs is a volunteer group that has no just two hours twice a month driving
abilities. law enforcement or community standards a COPs car or staffing the office in
enforcement role. This means that we your own home. We’ll train and outfit
What can the Sun City Texas COPs do? cannot arrest anyone nor detain anyone. you. For more information, call 512-
We definitely avoid domestic disputes. We 966-1362, Monday through Friday,
– Observe, report and assist (when we concern ourselves with parked RVs that from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
can). are a traffic hazard.
– Patrol the community and provide To community outsiders, COPs has an
visible proof that there is a security
force present.
14 | SUNRAYS FEBRUARY 2017 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG
