May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Every year, the National Stroke Association leads the stroke community in providing ways to learn about stroke, sharable resources, and opportunities to participate. The goals of this year's campaign are to help reduce stroke risk and take people behind the scenes of what happens when someone experiences a stroke.

Consumers can view the video Stroke: It Happens in an Instant to gain a better understanding of stroke.

They can participate in National Stroke Awareness Month in a number of ways:

• get active and participate in the Steps to Stop Stroke step challenge;
• commit to making a change and improving a stroke risk factor; and
• share the resources on the National Stroke Awareness Month website with friends, family and the community to help everyone learn more about stroke.

Health care providers can help raise stroke awareness, and the National Stroke Association will show you how. Visit the National Stroke Awareness Month website and click on answers to these simple questions:

• How much do you know about stroke?
• How much time do you have to give to raising stroke awareness?
• What is your comfort level with speaking in public?

The website offers resources for community presentations, advocacy, images, e-cards and social media. Visit stroke.org/nsam for ideas on how to get involved and spread the word about National Stroke Awareness Month (#StrokeMonth).