100 High Street
Buffalo, NY 14203



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael P. Hughes (716) 843-7588
or Linda LiSacchi (716) 887-4431



Stroke Care Center

STROKE AWARENESS DAY PLANNED AT MILLARD GATES HOSPITAL

2004

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Friday, May 28, 2004) - Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital's Stroke Care Center, a Kaleida Health facility, is offering a free stroke awareness educational session for the public on Sunday, June 6.

Participants will learn how to recognize and prevent strokes, the nation's No. 3 killer and leading cause of severe, long-term disability.

"Residents of the Buffalo-Niagara region, especially women, are nearly twice as likely to suffer a stroke as those living in Rochester, Albany or Manhattan," said Dr. Frederick E. Munschauer III, Director of the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease at Kaleida Health. . "Only through rapid diagnosis and specialized treatment can we hope to relieve the suffering of stroke for those afflicted with this devastating illness."

The session will be held from 1 - 3:30 p.m. on June 6 at Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital's Webster Hall. The doors near the emergency room open at noon and free parking is available in the adjacent ramp if the parking ticket is brought to the lecture for validation.

Knowing the warning signs and learning when you should seek treatment, may also reduce the damage caused by a stroke. Blood pressure screening and "check your pulse" instructions will be given without a fee.

Some facts about stroke:

  • Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease. It affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when a clot or bursts either block a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die
  • Risk factors include high blood pressure, tobacco use, high blood cholesterol, heart disease and genetics.
  • About 1.2 million Americans report difficulties in daily living due to strokes
  • Someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of one every 3.1 minutes
  • 700,000 people suffer a stroke each year. Many do not realize they are having one, do not get to the hospital in time and miss out on effective treatment

    Stroke warning signs include:

  • Sudden numbness or weakness in the arms, face or legs, particularly on one side of the body
  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding what others are saying
  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  • Sudden severe headache with no known cause

    Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital is located at the southeast corner of Gates Circle, a section of Delaware Avenue, in downtown Buffalo.

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    Kaleida Health is the largest health care provider in Western New York. More than one million patients are seen annually at Buffalo General Hospital, DeGraff Memorial Hospital, Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, The Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo and numerous community health care centers. The system includes long-term care facilities, as well as visiting nurse, behavioral health and home care services.