Having a stroke doesn’t mean you’re down for the count. Even manly men should know the rules of the game and call 9-1-1 in a stroke emergency.
The American Stroke Association is launching a three-month educational campaign in the two cities that ranked in the top five of a recent listing of “America’s Manliest Cities.” Kansas City ranked third and Nashville fourth in the June 2010 study by Sperling’s BestPlaces, a research firm that analyzes data to rate cities based on different criteria.
Every year, about 795,000 Americans suffer a stroke, and 610,000 are first attacks. Men are at high risk of having a stroke at younger ages than women, according to the American Stroke Association.
The pilot campaign, funding provided by Genentech Inc., is designed to reach men with stroke information, including the warning signs and what to do in a stroke emergency. The stroke pilot cities were selected by the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, based on multiple criteria, including stroke incidence, stroke mortality and the number of hospitals in the area that specialize in stroke care.
Not only do both Kansas City and Nashville share the trait of being two of the “manliest” cities, but they also share some undesirable statistics about stroke. Both cities have a high prevalence of stroke and more males are having strokes than females.
"Too often, men think they need to "tough it out" instead of paying attention to symptoms they are having. Ignoring stroke symptoms and not acting quickly may lead to disability or death," said Marilyn M. Rymer, Medical Director of Saint Luke's Brain and Stroke Institute. "It is critical that everyone know the signs and symptoms of stroke because it is often a bystander and sometimes even a child who recognizes the problem and calls 911 in time to make a real difference in the outcome."
Manly men — and anyone else, for that matter — need to call 9-1-1 immediately if they have these major stroke warning signs or see someone having them:
? 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
Windsor High School football and basketball coach Heath Heckadon prepared for his first-hour class on April 2, 2007. But as he tried to jot notes on the chalkboard, his right arm went limp. Then his face started to feel numb and his speech slurred.
“Not knowing what had happened, I found two students and tried to get help but I couldn't talk to them. They did not know what was happening either so they playfully wrestled me to the floor because they thought I was playing a prank,” said Heckadon. He made his way to the school office, where a colleague immediately recognized something was wrong, but didn’t exactly know what. Unbeknownst to him and everyone around, at age 29, Heckadon was having a stroke.
911 emergency help was summoned, and paramedics confirmed the seriousness of Heckadon's condition and took immediate action.
A stroke victim has 4 1/2 hours from symptom onset to get to a hospital and be assessed for a clot-busting drug that may help reduce the effects of the stroke.
In an effort to bring awareness to the stroke warning signs, consumers in Kansas City can expect to see campaign spots on local TV and radio stations, as well as on billboards and Web banners. Educational resources are available to hospitals, healthcare workers and the general public in both cities via the campaign’s website, www.strokeassociation.org/KC.
Though the campaign focuses on men, women of Kansas City also should take heed. Both cities ranked high among the worst heart-healthy cities for women, according to a 2008 American Heart Association study.
To learn more about stroke and stroke warning signs, visit www.strokeassociation.org/KC.
Genentech is a supporter of the American Stroke Association’s Warning Signs Campaign.
