Macon, Ga. (May 14, 2026) – Piedmont Macon Medical Center will host stroke survivors next week from across Middle Georgia for its annual Stroke Stroll, a celebration of stroke survivors’ journeys.
Survivors are encouraged to bring family and friends to cheer them on during the May 21 event, which will begin at noon in the hospital’s cafeteria at 350 Hospital Drive. Survivors are asked to be at the hospital by 11:30 a.m.
Immediately after the stroll, stroke survivors, their family members, caregivers and friends are invited to stay for Piedmont Macon’s “Strive from Stroke” support group meeting. The group features various awareness speakers and activities.
Stroke is now the fourth-leading cause of death in the US, according to the American Heart Association, and was the underlying cause of more than 162,000 deaths in the country in 2023, the most recent year available.
The good news is that those figures are slightly down from the year before when stroke claimed the lives of more than 165,000 Americans, but Monica Cook, stroke program manager at Piedmont Macon, said the number is still too high.
“Every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke,” she said. “We still have a lot of work to do.”
Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Because up to 80% of strokes are preventable, Piedmont Macon is reminding the community that prevention and quick action saves lives. Many of the most common stroke risk factors are within our control.
“Hypertension, or high blood pressure, remains the number one risk factor we can control to reduce our risk of stroke,” Cook said. “People may have high blood pressure and not be aware, so it’s important to check your blood pressure and know your numbers. It’s also critical that we have conversations with our health care provider about our additional stroke risk factors.”
Knowing the signs of a stroke and taking immediate action can often lead to better recovery outcomes. In general, rapid recognition and response are key to decreasing the chances of long-term disability. To help identify signs of a stroke, use the acronym B.E.F.A.S.T.:
- Balance – Is there trouble with balance or coordination?
- Eyes – Has the person experienced blurred, double, or loss of vision?
- Face – Look for an uneven smile.
- Arm – Check if one arm or leg is weak or just “doesn’t feel right.”
- Speech – Listen for slurred speech or trouble finding words.
- Time/Terrible Headache – Call 911 right away if you have any of the above symptoms or “the worst headache of your life.”
Cook said almost 2 million brain cells are lost per minute when a person is having a stroke, so every minute matters.
“When it comes to stroke care, the faster you can get to the hospital after symptom onset, the more treatment options you will have to reduce disability from stroke,” she said. “As soon as stroke symptoms start, don’t hesitate. Call 911 immediately.”
For more information on stroke care at Piedmont Macon, visit www.piedmont.org/stroke.
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