Stroke Information Conveyed To Seniors
Stroke Information Conveyed To Seniors
By Nancy K. Crevier
Bonnie Loglisci, health service coordinator from Life Line Screening, the nationâs leading provider of mobile vascular and osteoporosis screenings, was at the Newtown Senior Center on Thursday, February 16, to present a workshop on stroke prevention.
Dozens of seniors crowded the main room of the center, taking time out from the sunny, springlike weather to learn more about the warning signs and symptoms of a stroke and what can be done to prevent what Ms Loglisci said is also referred to as âa brain attack.â
âLess than three percent of Americans can name the signs and symptoms of stroke,â she informed the group, yet the complications of stroke are the number one reason for nursing home admissions in America.
A stroke is the obstruction of blood flow to a region of the brain and may result in brain tissue death. âStrokes affect not only the patient, but the entire family, as well,â said Ms Loglisci. â[The patientâs] life is never the same again, the familyâs life is never the same.â
A blockage of the carotid artery by plaque buildup is the most common reason for a stroke, she said. Comparing the carotid artery to plumbing, she said, âWhen plumbing is new, itâs good. Everything flows smoothly, the way it should. But as 30 or 40 years go by, the plumbing gets clogged up. That can happen to arteries, too.â Excessive fatty build up in the arteries contributes to stroke risk.
It is important to know the symptoms of a stroke in order to receive the immediate treatment that can mean the difference between lifelong debilitation and far less severe outcomes, said Ms Loglisci. Slurred speech, difficulty speaking, numbness on one side of the body, dizziness, impaired motor skills, and severe headache are all signs of a stroke and should be taken seriously.
Do not ignore these symptoms. âIf you can get to a hospital within three hours, medication can be administered intravenously to halt the progress of the stroke,â she informed the crowd.
Ms Loglisci had good news for the crowd, too. âThree out of four strokes are preventable,â she said. Regular screenings for arterial health can catch health issues that forewarn of a stroke, for one thing. She also pointed out that healthy food choices and regular exercise can aid in stroke prevention. âAvoid fatty, fried foods, for instance,â she suggested. âWe didnât always know how bad they were for you, but now we do. Making healthy choices can make a difference.â
Life Line Screening will be at the Newtown Senior Center in Sandy Hook on Friday, March 24, from 9 am to 4 pm to perform tests that quickly detect arterial abnormalities. Three noninvasive, painless screenings are available. Stroke screening for carotid arteries looks for build up in this main artery to the brain; abdominal aortic aneurysm screening detects abnormal enlargement of the abdominal aortic blood vessel; screening for peripheral arterial disease detects plaque build up in the lower extremities, often a precursor to heart disease. Osteoporosis screening is also available at an additional fee.
While Medicare does not pay for preventative screenings, Life Line tries to keep the cost of the screenings reasonable, said Ms Loglisci. The three vascular screenings cost $109.
Preregistration is required, with priority given to senior center members and residents of Newtown. No walk-ins will be accepted the day of the screening. To make an appointment call 800-324-1851.