The recent passing of actor Luke Perry from a stroke at age 52 has placed a spotlight on a condition that is widely known of but not necessarily understood. While the majority of strokes occur in those 65 and older, in recent years they have been on the rise for younger people as well.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke every 40 seconds… and someone dies from it every 4 minutes. Moreover, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
Most strokes result from a blocked artery (called an ischemic stroke) or a brain hemorrhage (a hemorrhagic stroke). Symptoms of a possible stroke include numbness of the face, arm, or leg, difficulty speaking, and sudden dizziness or headache.
As stroke risk is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, a focus on healthier lifestyles can help to decrease the risk. MedBen WellLiving features a specialty care program in which plan members identified with these risk factors are contacted to receive individualized and confidential nurse coaching.
Through specialty care coupled with prevention and early detection, MedBen WellLiving offers proven solutions to reduce the risk of stroke and other debilitating conditions in your employee population. Get more information about our wellness advantage by contacting Vice President of Sales & Marketing Brian Fargus at 888-627-8683 or bfargus@medben.com.