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Contact:
Jennifer
M. Bonck
“I
see the devastation that stroke brings. I see how
much suffering could be prevented if more people knew
about stroke. Four out of five families are affected
by stroke in America,”
--
Kevin
Pearce, M.D.,
chair of Kentucky’s
“Ask Your Doctor” program.
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July
8, 2003 (Lexington, Ky.) --
It crosses all social, economic and gender barriers.
It often hits people so quickly, there’s little
time to react unless you recognize the symptoms. Every
year 750,000 Americans suffer a stroke or brain attack.
Remarkably, up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable.
National
Stroke Association (NSA) is launching a national
multi-year stroke education campaign in the Southeastern
United States, also known as the “stroke belt”
due to the number of stroke deaths in this region.
This inaugural year’s theme is “Ask Your
Doctor - Am I at Risk for Stroke?” NSA encourages
doctors and patients to discuss stroke more often.
Every year, stroke kills approximately 3,000 Kentuckians.
“I
see the devastation that stroke brings. I see how
much suffering could be prevented if more people knew
about stroke. Four out of five families are affected
by stroke in America,” said Kevin
Pearce, M.D., associate professor and vice chair
for academic affairs, Department of Family Practice
and Community Medicine, University of Kentucky College
of Medicine, and the chair of Kentucky’s “Ask
Your Doctor” program.
NSA,
in conjunction with the UK Chandler Medical Center,
hosted a media opportunity today to announce the “Ask
Your Doctor” campaign in Kentucky.
Pearce,
and Creed
Pettigrew, M.D., professor, UK Department of Neurology,
and director of UK’s Stroke Program, discussed
the details of the education campaign, as well as
the latest in stroke research. Stroke survivors also
shared their experiences.
The
campaign is a national effort to increase communication
between physicians and their patients regarding stroke
prevention, treatment and recovery. The campaign will
span three to five years with three goals: (1) increase
communication between patients and doctors on stroke;
(2) increase the identification and treatment of stroke;
and (3) improve the management of stroke risk factors.
NSA
is a leading independent national non-profit organization
devoting its efforts and resources to stroke —
including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and
support for stroke survivors and their families. For
more information, contact the NSA at
1-800-STROKES
or visit www.stroke.org.
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