health and wellness
Awareness is Key: 3 Steps to Help Recognize Stroke Signs and Risks for Better Outcomes
Stroke Signs: A stroke can happen to anyone at any age. Take control of your brain health with this information.
(Feature Impact) A stroke can happen to anyone at any age.
Awareness is Key: 3 Steps to Help Recognize Stroke Signs and Risks for Better Outcomes
In fact, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke, with approximately 800,000 people experiencing a stroke annually, according to the American Heart Association, making it a leading cause of death and serious, long-term disability.
A stroke happens when normal blood flow in the brain is interrupted. When parts of the brain don’t get the oxygen-rich blood they need, those cells die.
However, many strokes may be prevented, treated and overcome by understanding the risk factors and taking steps toward managing them.
“When a stroke happens, every minute matters,” said Dr. Adrian Jaquin-Valdivia, a stroke neurologist at HCA Healthcare and American Stroke Association volunteer expert. “The faster someone gets treatment, the better the chance of saving brain function. On average, nearly 2 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated. Early treatment improves survival rates and reduces disability.”
Take control of your brain health with this information from the American Stroke Association.
Know the Warning Signs
Because strokes do not discriminate, knowing the signs is key. To help you recognize common warning signs and symptoms of stroke and take action in moments that matter, remember this simple acronym: B.E. F.A.S.T.
B: Balance loss – sudden difficulty with walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination.
E: Eye (or vision) changes – sudden vision loss or trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
F: Face drooping – one side of the face droops or feels numb; a smile may look uneven.
A: Arm weakness – one arm feels weak or numb or drifts downward when raised.
S: Speech difficulty – a telltale sign of a stroke is slurred speech or trouble speaking.
T: Time to call 911 – If someone is having any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call emergency services immediately to jumpstart care. Be sure to check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms started.
Explore the signs by playing the interactive, web-based B.E. F.A.S.T. Experience to see what stroke symptoms may look, feel and sound like.
Take Steps to Protect Your Health
Approximately 80% of strokes are preventable, according to the American Stroke Association. Everyday choices – such as eating well, moving more, not smoking and keeping up with routine health screenings, along with managing risk factors with the support of a health care professional – can help lower stroke risk.
Manage Risk Factors
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for stroke, according to the 2025 American Heart Association/ACC Guideline for the Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Controlling blood pressure through regular checkups, at-home monitoring, following your treatment plan and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk of stroke and support overall brain health.
Additionally, having a stroke or mini stroke, known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), increases the chances of having a second one. That’s why identifying what caused your stroke and reducing your personal risk factors can help protect your health and reduce the risk of another stroke.
To learn more about stroke risk factors and better understand the warning signs, visit Stroke.org/StrokeMonth, where you can also access stroke support services and subscribe to the Stroke Connection e-newsletter for the latest resources.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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home improvement
Fresh Start, Fresh Planet: 5 Steps to Reduce Waste During Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a perfect opportunity to reset, reorganize and make small changes that can help the planet. Consider these five easy waste-reduction tips to help you jump into the season feeling organized and eco-friendly.
Last Updated on May 5, 2026 by Daily News Staff
(Feature Impact) As the days get longer and the weather improves, many people often find the motivation to refresh their homes – and their habits.
Spring cleaning is a perfect opportunity to reset, reorganize and make small changes that can help the planet. What’s more, these changes are simple to implement and can even earn you some extra cash.
Steps to Reduce Waste During Spring Cleaning
Consider these five easy waste-reduction tips from the experts at CalRecycle to help you jump into the season feeling organized and eco-friendly.
1. Recycle Kitchen Waste
As you clear out expired or forgotten food, sort items for maximum impact:
- Remove plastic and non-compostable packaging and put spoiled or freezer-burned food into your green bin. These scraps can be turned into compost and clean energy, helping cut methane emissions from landfills.
- Toss empty, dry recyclables, including condiment bottles, glass jars, metal cans and plastic food containers, into your blue bin.
2. Cash in Empty Beverage Containers
- Cleaning out your home may uncover some empty or forgotten beverage containers. Empty out leftover liquids and take eligible beverage containers for soda, water, juice, wine and distilled spirits to your nearest recycling site for cash back. Every California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage container you recycle saves resources and puts money back in your pocket.
- If you’re short on time, donate your empty CRV beverage containers to your favorite nonprofit organization. Set up a separate bin just for eligible beverage containers and drop them off for donation when it’s full.
3. Give Clothes and Household Items a Second Life
- Dig into your closets and shelves to see what you can repair, repurpose or donate. Fix a missing button, turn old fabric into cleaning rags or give gently used items to a local free-exchange group or thrift store to reduce textile waste. Simple steps like these can keep usable items out of the landfill and help someone else put them to good use.
4. Declutter Paper and Electronics
- Recycle junk mail, magazines and newspapers in your blue bin. Remove any plastic windows, wrap or stickers first. If you shred documents, place the shredded paper inside a paper bag before recycling. Bonus tip: Switching to digital statements and bills can help prevent paper clutter in the first place.
- Old electronics and used batteries don’t belong in the trash. Gather them from drawers and cabinets then take them to an e-waste drop-off site or local household hazardous waste collection center for safe handling.
5. Refresh the Bathroom
- When restocking soaps or cleaners, look for products that offer refillable containers (especially reusable glass and aluminum ones). It’s a simple way to cut down on plastic waste.
- When you finish bottles of shampoo, conditioner, soap or cleaning sprays, make sure they land in your recycling bin after you empty them out.
- Swap out single-use paper towels for washable cloths or rags. They’re reusable, durable and kinder to the environment.
For more details, CRV redemption locations and food scrap recycling tips, visit RecyclingReimaginedCA.com.
Photos courtesy of Shutterstock
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health and wellness
Heart Risks Go Beyond the Heart: Don’t Forget to Check Blood Sugar and Kidney Health
Last Updated on May 4, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Heart Risks Go Beyond the Heart: Don’t Forget to Check Blood Sugar and Kidney Health
(Feature Impact) Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In fact, most people don’t realize their heart, kidney and metabolic health – how the body creates, uses and stores energy – are connected. Understanding these connections can help you take steps toward protecting your long-term health.
Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a health condition that includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity. Many people don’t realize they’re at risk, though, because they aren’t aware of health risks beyond the heart. Almost 1 in 4 U.S. adults with diabetes are unaware they have it, according to a 2026 statistics update from the American Heart Association. In addition, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that as many as 9 in 10 adults with chronic kidney disease don’t know they’re living with the condition.
Learning about CKM syndrome can be a helpful step in understanding your overall health picture.
How are CKM conditions connected?
Heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes have shared risk factors – including high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar; excess weight; and reduced kidney function – and they’re closely linked. Having one condition often increases the likelihood of developing the others.
“We are encouraging people to become aware of the connection between conditions so they and their health care team can think about their overall health beyond individual conditions,” said Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, executive director of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health and senior vice president of women’s health at Northwell Health. “Understanding the connection helps you better prevent complications through lifestyle changes and appropriate treatment.”
The biggest health threats from CKM syndrome are disability and death from heart disease and stroke, which make up the “cardiovascular” part of CKM. The “metabolic” part includes diabetes and obesity. Kidney disease is closely linked with both metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
How common is CKM syndrome?
CKM-related risks are common. Nearly 90% of U.S. adults have at least one risk factor for CKM syndrome. The 2026 statistics report showed about half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure, about 1 in 3 has high total cholesterol, more than half have prediabetes or diabetes, about 1 in 7 has kidney disease and more than half have a high waist circumference.
These risks often develop slowly, with few or no symptoms at first, but you can stay informed. Rosen emphasizes regular screening of your cardiovascular, kidney and metabolic health, which can catch problems early.
“Due to the current risk factor rates, everyone could benefit from being screened this way,” she said.
Regular check-ins with your health care team can offer a clearer picture of your CKM health. They can check your:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol panel (total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Blood glucose (blood sugar), measured in either the short term as fasting glucose or long term as A1C
- Body weight and size, measured by body mass index and waist circumference
- Kidney function, using both UACR and eGFR
These results can be used in the PREVENT online calculator to estimate your risk for cardiovascular disease over the next 10 or 30 years. CKM syndrome can often be prevented and improved with healthy daily habits like those in Life’s Essential 8 and science-based treatments.
The CKM Health Initiative was introduced by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of the connections between CKM syndrome conditions and improve diagnosis rates. It’s supported by founding sponsors Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, supporting sponsors Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Bayer, and champion sponsor DaVita.
Visit Heart.org/myCKMhealth to learn more about CKM health, including screening and treatment options.
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
Health
Join the Fight Against ALS: Register and Make a Difference
Every year, doctors tell more than 5,000 Americans they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS. It is a life-changing diagnosis. In honor of ALS Awareness Month, learn more about the disease.
Join the Fight Against ALS: Register and Make a Difference
(Feature Impact) Every year, doctors tell more than 5,000 Americans they have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS. It is a life-changing diagnosis.
Still, it’s hard to estimate the total number of ALS cases in the United States. No one knows what causes most cases of ALS, something the U.S. National ALS Registry is working to change.
In honor of ALS Awareness Month, learn more about the registry, how the information is used and how to enroll if you have ALS.
What is ALS?
ALS is a disease that affects the nerve cells that make muscles work in the body. This disease makes the nerve cells stop working and die. The nerves lose the ability to trigger specific muscles, which causes the muscles to become weak and leads to paralysis.
What is the registry?
“The National ALS Registry is a program of, by and for those living with ALS,” said Dr. Paul Mehta, principal investigator of the Registry. “The program collects, manages and analyzes data about people with ALS in the United States. It includes data and information provided by individuals who choose to register and complete the risk factor surveys.”
What is its purpose?
The main purpose is to gather information that can be used in the fight against ALS. The information is used to:
- Estimate the number of new cases of ALS diagnosed each year
- Estimate the number of people who have ALS at any given point in time
- Better understand who gets ALS and what factors affect the disease
- Enhance research that could improve care for people with ALS
How do researchers use the data?
Researchers can use the data to look for disease pattern changes over time and try to identify whether there are common risk factors among people with ALS. Since 2010, the registry has funded more than a dozen studies exploring potential ALS risk factors.
What does participation look like?
Individuals with ALS are encouraged to share their stories, enhancing ALS data and supporting research efforts. People living with ALS can help the National ALS Registry by completing up to 18 risk factor surveys, covering topics such as occupational history and environmental exposures, which help create a more complete picture of their ALS story.
How can someone join?
Anyone living with ALS can enroll. By joining and taking the risk factor surveys, individuals living with ALS can help future generations.
Get started at cdc.gov/als.
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Our Lifestyle section on STM Daily News is a hub of inspiration and practical information, offering a range of articles that touch on various aspects of daily life. From tips on family finances to guides for maintaining health and wellness, we strive to empower our readers with knowledge and resources to enhance their lifestyles. Whether you’re seeking outdoor activity ideas, fashion trends, or travel recommendations, our lifestyle section has got you covered. Visit us today at https://stmdailynews.com/category/lifestyle/ and embark on a journey of discovery and self-improvement.
