With the recent death of actor Luke Perry shocking so many fans, the interest in how to prevent a stroke has grown and the city is holding a free seminar to help.
More than 700,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke each year, the effects of which can be debilitating.
Medical experts say strokes are mainly caused by blood clots inside the brain.
There are certain things that can put a person at higher risk like cigarette smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and undiagnosed diabetes.
Strokes are much more prevalent in people in their 60’s and 70’s, but cases are seen in much younger people as well. For example, the late actor Luke Perry was just 52 years old when he died from a stroke.
Doctors say it is important to know warning signs because every second counts when a loved one is having a stroke.
A person suffering a stroke may become weak or experience temporary paralysis on one side of the body. The individual may have difficulty speaking or swallowing.
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"Time is of the essence. We really need to understand what a stroke is and call 911 if they think that they’re having a stroke or their loved one is," said Dr. Ryan Viets, an Interventional Neuroradiologist with Sharp HealthCare.
Sharp HealthCare and the City of San Diego are holding a free community seminar on stroke prevention Friday, March 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. at Logan Heights Library.
There, people will learn about stroke symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.
The medical group said the event is free and everyone is welcomed.
