Contact: Yana Ogletree Office: 936-639-7163 Cell: 936-635-9705

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Memorial Health System of East is Spreading Awareness about Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

LUFKIN, TEXAS (March 10, 2009)…It is the third leading cause of death in the and the leading cause of adult disability. It can happen to anyone at any time regardless of race, sex or age. Memorial Health System of urges citizens of Angelina County to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Stroke because 80% of strokes are preventable.

What is stroke? According to the National Stroke Association, stroke is a brain attack. It is a type of cardiovascular disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke happens when a clot obstructs the flow of blood to the brain or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain. During a stroke, two million brain cells die every minute increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. It is possible to save lives and limit disabilities by recognizing the symptoms of a stroke and acting quickly to get medical attention.

Common stroke symptoms include: • 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

If you think a person you are with is suffering a stroke, the National Stroke Association encourages you to “Act F.A.S.T.:” F = Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A = Arm Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one are drift downward? S = Speech Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange? T = Time If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.

There are many risk factors for stroke. Factors such as age, family history, race, gender, and previous stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or heart attacks can not be changed, but there are factors that can be changed, treated, or controlled.

• High Blood Pressure is a leading cause of stroke and the most important controllable risk factor for stroke. Doctors can help keep blood pressure under control • Cigarette Smoking doubles the risk for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system in many ways . • Diabetes , although treatable, increases the risk for stroke. • Arterial Fibrillation (AF), a heart rhythm disorder, causes the heart's upper chambers to quiver instead of beating effectively, which can let the blood pool and clot. If a clot breaks off, enters the bloodstream and lodges in an artery leading to the brain, a stroke results. • High Blood Cholesterol can indirectly increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk of heart disease – an important stroke risk factor. • A Poor Diet can raise cholesterol levels and a diet high in salt can contribute to high blood pressure. A diet containing five or more servings of fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of stroke. • Physical Activity and Obesity are related to stroke risk. Being inactive, obese or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Doing as little as 30 minutes a day of some kind of exercise activity can reduce the risk for stroke.

On average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds. More women die from stroke than men and African Americans have almost twice the risk of first-ever strokes as compared to Caucasians. Knowing the signs and symptoms of stroke and reacting quickly can save lives. Memorial Health System of East Texas urges everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke and “Think F.A.S.T.” because “time lost is brain lost.”

Memorial Health System of East Texas is currently constructing the area’s first dedicated cardiovascular and stroke center. The 48 million dollar facility is being built on the campus of Memorial Medical Center—Lufkin and is scheduled to open this fall. In conjunction with the new tower, Memorial also is partnering with The Methodist Hospital in Houston to create a much needed advanced stroke program in East Texas. The program is made possible by a 5.8 million dollar grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation in an effort to improve stroke mortality statistics. This is the largest known grant from a private foundation in support of a collaborative stroke education project.

“Stroke is an enormous public health threat, and we know the devastating impact it has on East Texans,” said Buddy Temple, Chairman of the of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, based in Lufkin. “This grant is about more than buying the right equipment and hiring stroke health care personnel. Through this partnership between Methodist and Memorial Health System of East Texas, we can be assured that East Texas families will have immediate access to top-notch stroke care, for generations to come.”

About Memorial Health System of East Texas As the largest health care system in the deep East Texas area, Memorial Health System of East Texas is a private, not-for-profit hospital that provides care to almost a quarter of a million patients each year. Since its inception in 1949, Memorial Health System has paved the way for quality, innovative health care in East Texas. In fact, Memorial consistently ranks among the nation’s best for exceptional health care and patient satisfaction.

Memorial Health System of East Texas is comprised of four hospitals—Memorial Medical Center—Lufkin, Memorial Medical Center—Livingston, Memorial Medical Center—San Augustine, and Memorial Specialty Hospital, the only rural long-term acute care facility within the area. Memorial offers a wide array of services, including the newly renovated Arthur Temple, Sr. Regional Cancer Center, which has earned a three- year seal of approval with commendation from the Commission on Cancer. Additionally, Memorial is a regional cardiac care center affiliated with the Methodist-DeBakey Heart Center in Houston. The hospital also is known for providing the area’s only comprehensive diabetes center—The Horace C. Polk Regional Diabetes Center. Other centers of excellence include the Temple Imaging Center that offers some of the most advanced procedures in the area, including PET/CT scanning for cancer and Alzheimer’s, 64 Slice CT scanning, Open Bore MRI, 4D Ultrasound, and digital mammography. Other specialty areas include Orthopedic care, Women’s Services, Inpatient and Outpatient Rehabilitation, Homecare, Wound and Hyperbaric Therapy, Kidney & Diabetes Treatment, Sleep Disorders Treatment, and Express Lab. Memorial Health System of East Texas—founded and funded by the people it serves.

Cutline: Memorial Health System of East Texas is constructing the area’s first dedicated cardiovascular and stroke center in East Texas. The 48 million dollar facility is scheduled to open this fall.