American Stroke Association Hopes to Boost Stroke Awareness

Every year, approximately 700,000 Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke, according to the American Stroke Association (ASA), a division of the American Heart Association. Yet a study recently published in the journal Neurology reports poor knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms among the general population (see box). This failure to recognize the onset of a stroke can adversely affect a patient’s treatment and outcome. Massachusetts stroke patients wait an average of 22 hours before going to the hospital.

The ASA encourages physicians to discuss stroke prevention measures and warning signs with patients at risk for stroke. In a scientific statement released in January, the ASA called upon physicians “to give individualized lifestyle advice to patients and refer patients at risk or diagnosed with hypertension to dietitians, health educators or behavioral modification programs.”

“It is important for physicians to educate their patients about how to prevent cardiovascular disease by healthy eating, regular physical activity, and taking medications as prescribed,” said Gray Ellrodt, M.D., chair of the Department of Medicine at Berkshire Medical Center. “Even if medication is prescribed, it’s still important for patients to receive additional information to help them make positive lifestyle changes.”

During May, American Stroke Month, the ASA will launch a “Power to End Stroke” awareness campaign. The main objective is to inform African Americans about their increased risk of stroke and to encourage steps toward prevention. African Americans are twice as likely as those in the general population to die from heart disease and stroke. A survey of African Americans conducted last August by the ASA found that only 30 percent of participants could correctly define stroke, and more than half could not identify stroke symptoms.

“Medical professionals, especially physicians, have the knowledge to help men and women learn about their individual risks so they can do something about it before it’s too late,” said Dr. Ellrodt.

The ASA and American Heart Association have joined with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) to develop the Heart/Stroke Recognition Program. This voluntary program recognizes physicians for providing high-quality cardiovascular and stroke care.

The Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recognizes as “Primary Stroke Centers” hospitals striving for better stroke outcomes. These hospitals have an acute stroke team -- headed by a physician director with expertise in cerebrovascular disease -- and timely availability of neuroimaging and other laboratory and neurosurgical services.

The ASA website (www.strokeassociation.org) contains a number of tools for physicians and patients to improve stroke awareness, prevention, and treatment. More information is also available from Shannon Melluzzo at (413) 735-2104, or Shannon.melluzzo@heart.org.

– Christine Connare