Staff declare screening successful
Dr. Josef Vanek of Laurel Ridge Surgical Associates, Cindy Stirling, director of the American Heart Association, and Nora Evans, community liaison of TCM Home Health/Caring Mission Home Care, were pleased with the recent success of the carotid artery screening event. Vanek identified about 13 percent of the participants as requiring follow up care with their family doctor.
Laurel Ridge Surgical Associates, American Heart Association, and TCM Home Health/Caring Mission Home Care sponsored the event, held to observe National Stroke Awareness Month in May.
According to the sponsors, controllable risks for strokes include high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, tobacco and alcohol use, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and physical inactivity.
Uncontrollable risk factors include age, gender, race, family history, previous stroke or TIA, fibromuscular dysplasia and patent foramen ovale (PFO or hole in the heart).
To recognize stroke symptoms, the sponsors suggest using the F.A.S.T. (face, arms, speech and time) method by asking the person to smile to see if one side of his or her face droops, raise both arms to see if one arm drifts downward, repeat a simple phrase to check for strange or slurring of the speech and, if any of the signs are observed, to call 911 for help.