American Heart Association

Know The Facts. Anyone Can Have A Stroke And Many Have. Educate Yourself And Stay Healthy


For Information About The Stroke Association Contact: Jenelle Holder, Director - Cultural Health Initiatives, Northeast Affiliate, American Heart Association Framingham, MA What is Stroke? June 2008 Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. What Are the Types of Stroke? Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain. Diagnosis of Stroke When someone has shown symptoms of a stroke or a TIA (transient ischemic attack), a doctor will gather information and make a diagnosis. A doctor may use many different tests. The ones listed here are just some of the more common options. Acute and PreventativeTreatments of Stroke Because their mechanisms are different, the treatments for the types of stroke are different. What Are the Effects of Stroke? The brain is an extremely complex organ that controls various body functions. If a stroke occurs and blood flow can't reach the region that controls a particular body function, that part of the body won't work as it should. Impact of stroke Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States, behind diseases of the heart and cancer. Hidden Risk Factors for Women June 2008 Excerpted from "What Women Need To Know About The Hidden Risk Factors For Stroke," Stroke Connection Magazine, November/December 2004. This year, more than 100,000 U.S. women under 65 will have a stroke. Stroke is not a geriatric disease. And it’s not confined to elderly overweight smokers who have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. “Those are the most common risk factors,” according to Steven J. Kittner, M.D., director of the Maryland Stroke Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. “But strokes can affect anyone at any age. There are other risk factors for stroke that are especially important for women under 55.” These include: * Migraines: Recent research shows that women who suffer from migraines with aura (visual disturbances such as flashing dots or blind spots) can be up to 10 times more likely to suffer a stroke, depending on other risk factors. * Birth Control Pills: Women who take even a low-estrogen birth control pill may be twice as likely to have a stroke than those who don’t and the risk may increase if other risk factors are present. * Hormone Replacement Therapy: Women who take hormone replacement therapy may have a slightly increased stroke risk. * Autoimmune diseases such as diabetes or lupus can increase the risk of stroke. * Clotting disorders: Women who’ve had more than one miscarriage may be at higher risk for blood clots, which can increase their chance of a stroke. Other signs of a possible clotting disorder can include previous history of clots in the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and livedo reticularis, a mottled purplish discoloration of the skin. “Risk factors are cumulative,” Dr. Kittner adds. “Reducing even one risk can greatly lower your chances of having a stroke.”

30 Prominent Boston African American Women to be honored this Saturday -Ms. Sarah-Ann Shaw, Boston’s first African American television reporter to serve as emcee- WHAT: The American Heart Association will be honoring 30 African American women from the Greater Boston area for their commitment to the Power to End Stroke Awareness campaign. These influential women have been helping to spread the word about the seriousness of the nation’s No. 3 killer—stroke—also a leading cause of long-term and severe disabilities. In the Greater Boston area, nearly 5,000 people have joined the Power to End Stroke movement and 200 have become Power Ambassadors. Nationwide almost 200,000 individuals have joined the Power to End Stroke Movement and 5,000 have signed on to become Power Ambassadors. One Boston Power Ambassador, Nwannedima Uchendu, the former Miss Black Massachusetts USA in 2006-2007, is dedicated to raising stroke awareness. She recently served as an advocate at the American Heart Association’s Federal Lobby Day in Washington D.C., to speak with Congress members about funding important legislation that helps to find cures for heart disease and stroke. Another Ambassador, Reverend Cynthia Bell of Strong Tower Church in Roxbury, has been instrumental in promoting Power to End Stroke through her church’s participation in Power Sunday. Rev. Bell uses her pulpit as a means to spread the word about the seriousness and long-term effects of the disease. Ms. Sarah-Ann Shaw will be Mistress of Ceremonies to help celebrate the work that these women and many others have been performing within their communities to help reduce the incidence of stroke with the African American communities. WHEN: Saturday, June 28, 2008 9:00-11:00 AM WHERE: Alumni Lounge, Campus Center University of Massachusetts, Boston 100 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA WHY: Stroke is the third leading cause of death for all Americans, but African Americans tend to have more strokes than others and tend to have higher rates of risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Facts about Stroke Stroke is the No. 3 killer in Massachusetts Blacks have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes compared to whites. Blacks have higher death rates for stroke compared to whites. The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is the highest in the world. African Americans are among those least aware of stroke risk factors, despite having a high prevalence of high blood pressure, obesity and tobacco use. CPR and AED Awareness Week June 1–7, 2008 Heroes aren't born. They're trained. Each year an estimated 166,000 lives are claimed by Sudden Cardiac Arrest, an electronic malfunction that causes rapid and chaotic heart activity. * Only about 6 percent of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims survive. * Fewer than 1/3 of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR. * Effective CPR can DOUBLE or TRIPLE survival rates. * A recent AHA survey shows few Americans are confident they could actually perform CPR and use an AED to help save a life in an emergency cardiac situation. Most Americans Don't Know "Better Fats" Benefit Heart Health American Heart Association expands national fats awareness campaign with "Better Fats Sisters" June 2008 Fewer than half of Americans know that the "better" fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) can help reduce their risk of heart disease, according to a recent survey1 by the American Heart Association. "Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer of Americans. Consumers have heard a lot about the 'bad' fats lately and what not to eat. That's why it's important for people to know the 'better' fats and foods where they're found so they can lower their risk for heart disease," said Robert H. Eckel, M.D., past president of the American Heart Association, chair of its trans fat task force and professor of medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus of the University of Colorado Denver. Facing the Fats with the Better Fats Sisters: Your Heart Helpers The American Heart Association is introducing two new characters, the Better Fats Sisters - Mon and Poly - to help consumers learn more about the benefits of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and the foods where they are found. The Web site (www.AmericanHeart.org/FaceTheFats) features the Better Fats Sisters alongside their Bad Fats Brothers, Sat and Trans. The Sisters help consumers find comprehensive information about fats so that they can eat healthier in restaurants and use the better fats when preparing meals at home. The Better Fats Sisters remind everyone that all fats have the same number of calories: 9 per gram, compared to the 4 calories per gram found in proteins and carbohydrates. That means that even the "better fats" are good only in moderation. Types of Fat and Heart Disease: Many Consumers Know the Bad, Fewer Know the Better The survey shows that: * Only 41 percent of Americans know that consuming monounsaturated fats decreases the risk of heart disease * Only 44 percent of Americans know that consuming polyunsaturated fats decreases the risk of heart disease In comparison: * 72 percent of Americans understand that consuming saturated fats increases the risk of heart disease * 68 percent of Americans understand that consuming trans fats increases the risk of heart disease Heart-Healthy Benefits of Better Fats Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can lower your LDL – or "bad" – cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease. Monounsaturated fats can be found in vegetable oils like olive and canola oils; and many nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts and sesame seeds. Peanut butter and avocados are also good sources of monounsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in oils like soybean and corn oils and in many nuts and seeds such as walnuts and sunflower seeds. Fatty fish like salmon and trout are also good sources of polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6, essential fats that your body needs but can't produce. www.AmericanHeart.org/FaceTheFats The American Heart Association's Face the Fats Web site helps consumers make heart-healthy choices, including: * Test Your Fats IQ – An interactive quiz that tests consumers' knowledge of dietary fats and helps them learn more about fats on the spot. * My Fats Translator – An easy-to-use calculator that gives individuals their personalized daily calorie and fat consumption results. Its food scenarios give ideas for smarter ways to prepare summer favorites, each with three examples of "bad," "better" and "best" selections. * Better Fats Recipes – New heart-healthy recipes that make use of the better fats. Power To End Stroke June 2008 Be real. Be strong. Be proud. The power is in your hands to prevent and overcome stroke, and the American Stroke Association is here with information and tools to support you every step of the way. Power To End Stroke is an education and awareness campaign that embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of African Americans. It unites African Americans to help make an impact on the high incidence of stroke within the community. It is important to know the signs of stroke. Stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs and teach them to others. Every second counts: * 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 Call 9-1-1 immediately if you or someone you know experience symptoms! Time lost is brain lost!

College Scholarships.doc

Media Kit | Contact Us| Home