Knowing your risks for stroke—which affects 700,000 Americans annually, is the third most prevalent cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability—means you can reduce some of them.
Registered nurses will conduct stroke screenings from
7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tues., May 26, and Fri., May 29, in Barb's Conference Room at John C. Lincoln's Cowden Center, 9202 N. Second St., Phoenix.
"That's why it's important to show up for free stroke screenings at John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital," said Sharon Siewert, RN, John C. Lincoln's director of Neurosciences. John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a Primary Stroke Center.
Although the screenings are free, appointments are required and will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis for those who call the Cowden Center at 602-870-6300.
The 15-minute screenings include completion of a medical history form, blood pressure check and a physical evaluation by a nurse. The nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to blood flow in the carotid (neck) artery to check for sounds of plaque buildup. Excess plaque causes a distinctive sound called a "bruit" and is a significant risk factor for stroke.
Board-certified neurologists will be available to counsel those who show high risk factors for stroke.
Those who have fasted for 12 hours before the stroke screening will be eligible for a free cholesterol check, normally a $25 test. While waiting for cholesterol test results, participants may watch a 15-minute educational video on stroke risk factors, prevention, symptom recognition and the need to act quickly if stroke symptoms are experienced.
The screenings are important, Siewert said, because "the risks of death or permanent disability diminish if patients get care within three hours of symptom onset at an accredited Primary Stroke Center such as John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital."
A stroke occurs, she explained, "when blood flow to an area of the brain is interrupted because a blood clot blocks the artery or because the artery breaks and bleeds into brain tissue. When either of these things happens, brain cells die.
"When brain cells die," she added, "abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost, often permanently. These abilities might include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs, how much of the brain is damaged and how quickly appropriate medical care is provided.
"Treatment that's started less than three hours after symptoms occur can save many stroke patients from a lifetime of disability," Siewert said. She encouraged people to think of strokes as "brain attacks," which, like heart attacks, require rapid treatment to facilitate recovery.
To ensure effective patient care, Siewert said transport to a Primary Stroke Center should be urged. "It's just as important to diagnose the cause as it is to recognize the symptoms of stroke itself."
If the stroke is caused by a clot, blood thinning medication must be given intravenously within 90 minutes of the advent of symptoms in order to prevent permanent damage, Siewert said. However, if the stroke is caused by bleeding in the brain, different treatment is essential.
Primary Stroke Centers such as John C. Lincoln are staffed and equipped to provide correct diagnosis and treatment. That's why it’s so important for patients to come to an accredited Stroke Center when symptoms of stroke occur.
Stroke symptoms include numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; or severe headache with no known cause.
For more information about stroke, visit JCL.com/stroke.
Lower Your Risk for Stroke or Heart Attack
The experts at John C. Lincoln Health Network offer this advice to help avoid a stroke or heart attack:
- Know and control your blood pressure.
- Have your physician check your heartbeat—by taking your pulse or with an electrocardiogram (ECG)—to find out if you have the kind of irregular heartbeat that causes blood to clot inside your heart.
- If you smoke, stop. It is never too late.
- If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than two drinks a day.
- Find out if you have high cholesterol, and if you do, get it under control.
- If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's advice to keep it in control.
- Exercise. Even a 30-minute daily walk can help.
- Lower the fat and salt in your diet.
- Find out if you have blood circulation problems. If so, follow your doctor's advice to treat your condition.
- Know the symptoms of stroke and heart attack. If they occur, call 9-1-1 immediately. Get help without delay.
The staff and physicians at John C. Lincoln Hospitals are nationally recognized for their expertise in evaluating and treating both strokes and heart attacks.
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, 250 E. Dunlap Ave., is a nationally accredited Primary Stroke Center, and John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital, 19829 N. 27th Ave., is a nationally accredited Chest Pain Center. |