KNOW YOUR RISKS, KNOW YOUR WARNING SIGNS,
KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STAY HEALTHY:
STROKE TIPS FROM PROVIDENCE

April 17, 2007

PORTLAND, Ore. - They kill twice as many women as breast cancer each year. They are the number three cause of death in the United States. And women are more likely to die from them than men.

We’re talking about strokes. They strike nearly 750,000 Americans each year-killing an estimated 170,000 people. Here in Oregon, the stroke death rate is the fifth highest in the country.

The sooner you recognize the signs you or someone you know is having a stroke - and the sooner you seek medical help - the better the chance of survival. That’s even more important here in Oregon, where the stroke death rate is the fifth highest in the country.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Providence stroke experts are available to talk on these topics.

GOOD FOOD CAN HELP PREVENT A STROKE
Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can drastically cut your risk of stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Attached are healthy recipes created by a Providence doctor. In fact, he feels so strongly about them, he’s created an entire cookbook! Providence experts can share diet, exercise and lifestyle tips that can help reduce the risk of stroke.

Apple broccoli celery salad
Crowded chowder
Nutty brown rice

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS AND HELP SAVE A LIFE
Losing someone special in your life to a stroke takes only an instant. In support of National Stroke Awareness Month, Providence experts ask you to take a few minutes to raise your awareness about stroke. The phrase “time is brain” is often used in association with stroke, due to the limited window of time in which injured brain tissue can be saved - approximately three hours after symptoms begin. The sooner you recognize the signs and call 9-1-1, the better the chance of survival.

Learn to recognize the warning signs of stroke, and you could save a life:

- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

DO YOU KNOW YOUR RISK?
Talk with Providence experts to find out how high your risk of stroke is; to learn the difference between the risk factors you can and cannot control; and for those you can control, how best to manage them. Visit the Providence Stroke Center website to take an interactive test assessing your risk. You’ll also find tips to reduce your risk at our Providence Stroke Center Web site.

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Providence Stroke Center, Oregon’s first JCAHO- certified program for stroke care, works in cooperation with the Oregon Stroke Center to provide round-the-clock acute stroke evaluation and cutting-edge treatment. Stroke patients are cared for by a team of experts who work to identify stroke cause; minimize stroke-related disability; and guide patients to recovery and rehabilitation after hospitalization. The center's neuro bi-plane room enables neurointerventionalists to rapidly view a patient's brain from multiple angles by way of a 3-D camera; such advanced technology expedites treatment of life-threatening conditions such as cerebral aneurysms and certain types of strokes. Providence Stroke Center is part of the Providence Brain Institute and offers services at both Providence St. Vincent and Providence Portland Medical Centers. For more information, visit www.providence.org/brain.