DPH Campaign Makes Public Aware Of Stroke Risks

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has launched a two-month media campaign to educate the public about “The Power to End Stroke.” The campaign is in association with the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association, and African American Affairs Commission. The stroke awareness campaign began in late May in honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, and will continue into June.

Stroke refers to damage in a group of nerve cells in a patient’s brain, resulting from interrupted blood flow caused by a blood clot or a bursting blood vessel. Strokes can lead to speech problems, paralysis, coma, dementia, or even death, depending upon the area of the brain that is affected. Age is the overarching risk factor for stroke, with stroke risk doubling every decade following the age of 55.

“Many stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, obesity, and tobacco use, are preventable or controllable,” said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD, MPH. “‘The Power to End Stroke’ campaign focuses on the factors that can be changed, and on the symptoms that indicate stroke — such as sudden numbness, trouble seeing, speaking, or understanding, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and a sudden and severe headache. Anyone experiencing one or any of these symptoms should call 911 immediately.”

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Connecticut, accounting for six percent of all deaths in the state in 2002. Other Connecticut-related stroke facts:

éMore than 1,800 Connecticut residents die each year from stroke.

éAbout 63 percent of stroke deaths are female.

éMore than 90 percent of all stroke deaths in Connecticut occur among persons 65 or older.

éThere are more than 7,600 hospitalizations due to stroke every year in Connecticut, about 52 percent of which are female.

éBlack females have significantly higher age-adjusted stroke death rates compared with white and Hispanic females in Connecticut (age-adjusted rate per 100,000 populations, 1999–2001: black females, 58 percent; white females, 45.5 percent; Hispanic females, 37.9 percent).

éBlack males and females have significantly higher premature mortality to age 75 compared with white males and females in Connecticut.

It is never too late to learn and take action against stroke. Stroke is a medical emergency, and every second counts. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others:

éSudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body;

éSudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;

éSudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes;

éSudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination; and

éSudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Call 911 immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms.

For more information about stroke, visit www.dph.state.ct.us/publications/stroke.pdf, call the American Stroke Association at 888-4-STROKE or visit www.strokeassociation.org/power.