Palmetto Health will offer free seminars and health screenings during May to help educate the community about the dangers of stroke and hypertension. According to the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center, South Carolina is in the “Stroke-Belt,” an 11-state region of the United States where studies show the risk of stroke is 34 percent higher for the general population than it is in other areas of the country. Since our region of the country is particularly susceptible to these conditions, it’s important to know the facts and be better prepared in the event of a life-threatening situation.
Stroke and Hypertension Awareness Month seminars include:
· Stroke Awareness Seminar will be held Tuesday, May 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. led by Anil Yallapragada, M.D., in Palmetto Health Baptist Auditorium, 1501 Sumter St., ground level, Columbia, South Carolina. The presentation will include Mediterranean cooking and brain health. Free screenings for blood pressure, diabetes and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) will be offered at 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited.
· Stroke Awareness Seminar will be held Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m.-noon. led by Ravish Khotari, M.D., in South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave., Sumter, South Carolina. The presentation will include Mediterranean cooking and brain health. Free screenings for blood pressure, diabetes and PSA will be offered at 4:30 p.m. Seating is limited.
The National Stroke Association reports that up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by working with a health care professional to reduce personal risk. The leading causes of stroke and the most important controllable risk factors for stroke are:
· High Cholesterol
· Smoking
· High Blood Pressure
· Diabetes
Getting to the hospital quickly is vital in getting treatment and preventing permanent damage. So, if you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms for more than a few minutes, call 9-1-1 immediately:
· Sudden weakness or numbness in face, arm, or leg on one side of body
· Abrupt loss of vision, strength, coordination, sensation, speech or ability to understand speech
· Sudden dimness of vision, especially in one eye
· Sudden and severe headache with no other cause followed rapidly by loss of consciousness
· Unexplained dizziness or sudden falls
To register for the seminar and the screening, or for more information on the Palmetto Health Stroke Center, please call 803-296-CARE (2273) or visit PalmettoHealth.org/StrokeCenter.
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