November 17, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tom Rosenberger, APR, Communications Department (513) 569-5260

CONTACT: Cindy Starr, MSJ, Communications Department (513) 584-2214

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Public Service Announcement: F-A-S-T Response to Stroke

Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Team and The Neuroscience Institute Team Up To Reach At-Risk Elderly and African-American Residents

CINCINNATI - A print public service campaign aimed at demographic groups with an elevated risk of stroke was rolled out today by The Neuroscience Institute and the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Team.

The public service announcement (PSA) explains the signs and symptoms of stroke and urges people to call 911 if they detect those signs in themselves or someone else. Posters and fliers are being offered at no charge to health care providers, educational and recreational institutions, churches and the general public.

The PSAs are a response to a University of Cincinnati (UC) study published last January in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that demographic groups with the highest risk and incidence of stroke - the elderly, African-Americans and men - were the least able to name a stroke warning sign or risk factor.

"Failure to recognize the warning signs of stroke is one of the largest barriers to effective treatment," said Dr. Alexander Schneider, assistant professor of neurology at the UC College of Medicine and lead author of the study. "Knowledge that a stroke is occurring or has occurred is critical, because medication must be administered within three hours of the stroke's onset."

A stroke generally strikes suddenly. It occurs when (1) a blood clot suddenly cuts off the flow of oxygen to the brain; or (2) a blood vessel in the brain suddenly ruptures. More than half a million Americans suffer a stroke each year, and stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the United States.

"The best way to treat a stroke would be to prevent it," said Rosie Miller, R.N., a Stroke Team researcher. "But if we can't prevent it, then we can teach people what to recognize." To simplify recognition of a stroke's symptoms, which are typically sudden in onset, Ms. Miller and the Stroke Team developed the mnemonic FAST:

F: Facial numbness or weakness, especially on one side.
A: Arm numbness or weakness, especially on one side.
S: Slurred speech or difficulty speaking.
T: Time to call 911.

Symptoms of stroke also may include severe headache, dizziness, loss of balance, loss of vision or double vision. Surprisingly, pain is not a frequent symptom of stroke. The most common kind of stroke, which occurs when a clot interrupts blood flow to the brain, does not hurt, said Dr. Dawn Kleindorfer, an assistant professor of neurology at UC and a Stroke Team physician.

The Stroke Team and Neuroscience Institute are offering two different PSA posters. One features a healthy, aging African-American couple; the other depicts a wheelchair and the back of an anonymous, disabled patient who did not heed the warning signs of stroke. Fliers (8.5 x 11) of the African-American couple also are available. Those interested in receiving additional posters or fliers can call 1-888-797-4TNI or send an e-mail to tni@healthall.com. Please include name, institution, phone number and address.

The Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Stroke Team, which includes physicians and nurses, is devoted to patient care, research and educational outreach. The team treats stroke patients at all area hospitals.

The Neuroscience Institute (TNI) is a regional center of excellence that embraces nine neuroscience specialties within The University Hospital, the Health Alliance and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. TNI is dedicated to patient care, research, education and the development of new medical technologies.

Additional support for the PSAs came from a grant from the Stroke Belt Consortium, which seeks to improve public and professional education about stroke in the "Stroke Belt," a region encompassing the Southeastern United States with the nation's highest and most deadly incidence of stroke.