Northern Hospital Urges Community to be Aware of Stroke Symptoms
Hospital to Host Community Event to Educate about Stroke – Friday
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. In order to help the community understand the risk factors and symptoms of stroke, a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability in the United States,1 Northern Hospital of Surry County will host a Community Education Event on Stroke Awareness.
The free to the public event will take place at Mayberry Mall on Friday, May 27th between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm. Hospital personnel will be set up in the heart of the mall, between The Shoe Department and JCPenny. Onsite staff will provide free blood pressure checks to the community along with education on stroke prevention, a stroke risk assessment and the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
“Time is crucial in the treatment of stroke, as on average, every 40 seconds someone in the United States has a stroke and roughly every four minutes someone dies from a stroke,” said Deborah Moser, Staff Development Coordinator and Stroke Program Coordinator at Northern Hospital.1 “The earlier a stroke is recognized and the patient receives medical attention, the greater chance of recovery.”1
Strokes occur when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or ruptures. When this occurs, part of the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, destroying millions of valuable nerve cells within minutes.
“If you suspect a stroke, remember the word FAST – F-A-S-T,” said Dr. Jason Edsall, Emergency Physician at Northern, “F is for face – is your face drooping? A is for arms – can you lift both arms? S is for speech – are you slurring your words and T is for time, call 9- 1-1 immediately because with stroke, time is brain.”1
The primary stroke symptoms include:
• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the face or facial drooping
• Sudden numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Earlier this year, Northern Hospital earned high honors with Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Northern Hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review in January when Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
About Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States.1 According to the American Stroke Association, approximately 795,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke each year, and 87 percent of these are ischemic strokes.1 An acute ischemic stroke occurs when an obstruction, such as a blood clot,
blocks blood flow to the brain. The obstruction deprives the brain of blood and oxygen, destroying valuable nerve cells in the affected area within minutes. The resulting damage can lead to significant disability including paralysis, speech problems and emotional difficulties.1 Treatment may be available if you get to the emergency room immediately upon recognition of stroke symptoms. Leading a healthy lifestyle, including lowering risk factors like high blood pressure and weight, can also help reduce your stroke risk. For more information about stroke, visit www.strokeawareness.com.
About Northern Hospital
Northern Hospital of Surry County is an independently operated award winning facility with a number of outpatient service locations including physician specialists, pharmacy, and fitness center. Northern Medical Group is the hospital’s network of primary care and specialty providers delivering a comprehensive array of services to meet the needs of the community. Northern Hospital is a certified Stroke Center of Excellence and is recognized for distinction in patient safety, receiving consistent honors of a Grade “A” Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group. The state-of-the art Surgery Center houses a wide range of inpatient and outpatient procedures including orthopedics, gynecology, gastroenterology, urological, surgeries of the eye, and other general surgeries. Northern Hospital is located in Mount Airy, North Carolina and serves the northwest Piedmont region of NC and neighboring counties in southwest Virginia. For more information, please call (336) 719-7000 or visit www.northernhospital.com.
1 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2013; 127:e133-242; Epub Dec 12, 2012. American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75231
