The chance of having a stroke doubles for each decade of life after age 55 and are common among the elderly. In 2009, about 650 Hawai‘i residents died of a stroke, according to the state Department of Health. But here’s the good news: a stroke is largely preventable and is the No. 1 preventable cause of disability.
Created in 1997, the American Stroke Association (ASA), a division of the American Heart Association (AHA) is to empower and educate you and loved ones of preventing strokes.
According to recent research commissioned by the ASA, about 93% of Americans do not consider stroke as a major health concern, yet it is the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. It is also the second leading cause of death in the world. Ages 60 – 79, 7.2% are men, 8.25% are women. For Asian or Pacific Islander, 34% are males and 32.1% are females. This was above cancer, accidents, diabetes, and pneumonia.
But here’s a hopeful statistic: 80% of strokes may be prevented. It is largely treatable. One thing to remember, to help recognize a stroke, is to think FAST.
For the first time in its 38-year history, the International Stroke Conference will be at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on Feb. 5–8, 2013. It is the world’s largest meeting for cerebrovascular healthcare professionals and will have the latest research findings and science. The conference will have over 1,300 scientific presentations.
The American Stroke Association’s mission is to reduce disability and death from stroke. Also, to help stroke survivors and their families recognize they are not alone in the recovery and to provide helpful resources for a productive life.
For information, visit StrokeAssociation.org, StrokeConference.org, or call 1-888-4Stroke.
Leave a Reply