More than 3,000 Hoosiers die every year from stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in Indiana. Thousands of more stroke victims suffer life-changing disabilities.
The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and St.Vincent are launching a new “Together To End Stroke” partnership to help reduce the burden of stroke in Central Indiana.
“Stroke can be devastating, but it is preventable, treatable and beatable,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hilburn, a JWM neurologist with St.Vincent Neuroscience Institute and a member of the American Heart Association’s board of directors. “Our goal with this program is to raise awareness among the public to immediately recognize symptoms of stroke as well as to take preventative steps to reduce their risk of stroke.”
The partnership kicks off Sept. 4 with a Stroke Casting Call from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Emmis Building on Monument Circle. Stroke survivors, family members and caregivers are invited to share their stories, which will be used locally as part of the education effort.
Additional events include a traveling F.A.S.T display; the Most Powerful Voices Concert on Oct. 25; stroke information at the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon on Feb. 25; and messaging during May which is American Stroke Month.
The F.A.S.T. moniker is used to remind people of the signs of a stroke.
F = Face drooping. One side of the face tends to droop.
A = Arm weakness. A person suffering a stroke loses feeling or strength in one arm.
S = Speech difficulty. A person has slurred speech, is unable to speak or is difficult to understand.
T = Time. Time to call 9-1-1. Stroke is treatable within a certain time window, but immediate help is necessary.
“Stroke, like heart disease, affects men and women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds,” Dr. Hilburn said. “Many strokes can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle changes to diet and exercise and controlling risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes.”
