Stroke. It occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. And it’s the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States.

According to Stroke Center. nearly 800,000 people suffer a stroke per year — nearly three-quarters of which occur in people over the age of 65.

Stroke symptoms come on very suddenly. Here are some of the most common ones, according to the CDC:

• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body, including the face, arm, or leg

• Difficulty speaking or slurred speech

• Confusion

• Vision problems

• Dizziness

• Loss of balance

• Coordination trouble

• Severe headache

The faster you can intervene when someone is experiencing stroke symptoms, the better. Think “FAST” and remember the following…

FAST stands for:

• FACE: Look for drooping one on side of the face

• ARM: Does one drift downward?

• SPEECH: Is speech slurred or distorted?

• TIME: Call 911 right away if you notice these symptoms

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

It is very important to evaluate each item for risk of eye injury when you are shopping this Holiday season.

How to Buy Safe Toys:

•Read all warnings and instructions to properly operate the toy

•Avoid buying toys with rigid or sharp points, rods, or anything that may have edges that are dangerous

•Try to avoid toys that shoot or have parts that fly off. Don’t forget that BB guns are not toys you will shoot your eye out

•Make sure you ask yourself if the toy is right for your children at his/her age

•Keep your eyes open for the letters “ASTM” (American Society for Testing and Materials) This tells you that the product meets the national safety standards set by “ASTM”

A great resource of toy information and toy recalls is from World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.) https://toysafety.org/toy-safety/2020-10-worst-toy-list/

A recent study by the National Institutes of Health revealed that a cup of cooked pumpkin is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C, which lowers the risk of getting cataracts and macular degeneration. Hence, if you are planning on snacking on a slice of pumpkin pie after the sumptuous Thanksgiving meal, go ahead, you will be doing your eyes a favor. Pumpkins are also a good source of beta-carotene, one of the best sources of nutrients for improved eye health.