National Stroke Association Launches 'Women In Your Life' Campaign To Educate About The Importance Of Recognizing Stroke Symptoms

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey from the National
 Stroke Association (NSA) found that one in three Americans are unable to name
 a single stroke symptom. Every 45 seconds someone suffers a stroke -- and many
 are not acting fast enough to prevent a fatal outcome or the serious long-term
 disability that can occur if treatment is not received in time.  Researchers
 report 80 percent of strokes are preventable, yet one in four Americans cannot
 name a single risk factor for stroke.
     "Understanding the warning signs is important because there are treatments
 we can give for stroke. If you understand the warning signs and get to the
 hospital quickly we can even possibly reverse the stroke itself," says Dr.
 Dawn Kleindorfer, assistant professor of neurology at University of Cincinnati
 School of Medicine.
     More than 30 percent of Americans are not aware that a stroke patient
 currently may not be eligible for treatment if more than three hours have
 elapsed after the first stroke symptoms. The NSA's "Women in Your Life"
 campaign will educate both men and women on how to act F.A.S.T. by recognizing
 stroke symptoms and taking action:
 
      FACE --   Ask the person to smile.
                Does one side of the face droop?
      ARMS --   Ask the person to raise both arms.
                Does one arm drift downward?
      SPEECH -- Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
                Are the words slurred?  Can the patient repeat the sentence
                correctly?
      TIME --   If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.
                Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.
 
     "There is a real need for public education about the symptoms of stroke,"
 said Jim Baranski, CEO and executive director of the NSA. "The goal of the
 'Women in Your Life' campaign is to educate people on how to recognize a
 stroke before it happens to them or someone they know."
     Taking action at the first sign of stroke is the key to reducing death and
 disability from this disease. The "Women in Your Life" campaign was developed
 in response to these alarming facts:
 
     * More women than men die from strokes, yet 30 percent of women report
       they would not recognize the symptoms of stroke.
     * Nearly one-third of men can't act quickly if their loved ones suffer a
       stroke because they can't recognize even one stroke symptom.
     * Twice as many women die from stroke than breast cancer, yet 19 percent
       report they don't know any risk factors for stroke.
     * More women are caregivers for stroke survivors.
 
     For additional information on the "Women in Your Life" campaign, please
 visit www.stroke.org or call 1-800-STROKES to receive a free informational
 booklet. The "Women in Your Life" campaign is sponsored by AstraZeneca.
 
     About Stroke
     Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of
 death among adults. The most common type of stroke is ischemic stroke, which
 occurs when blood clots block arteries and cut off blood flow to the brain.
 The most common stroke symptoms are: numbness in the body, dizziness or
 confusion.  Risk factors for stroke include: previous stroke, previous mini-
 stroke or transient ischemic attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure,
 heart disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery disease as well as being
 overweight, smoking and consuming too much alcohol.
 
     About National Stroke Association
     Based in Englewood, CO, the National Stroke Association (NSA) is a
 leading, independent national nonprofit organization devoting 100 percent of
 its efforts and resources to stroke. Currently, NSA is launching a
 comprehensive program to educate emergency medical technicians about the
 logistics of recognizing and handling the needs of a person suffering from a
 stroke. For more information contact NSA at 1-800-STROKES (767-6537) or visit
 www.stroke.org.
 
 

SOURCE  National Stroke Association