Free Stroke Screenings Offered During Stroke Awareness Month

By Jodi Whitaker May 1, 2012

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2012) - May is stroke awareness month and to help individuals understand their risk for stroke, UK HealthCare is offering free stroke screenings throughout the month at various locations across the UK HealthCare Campus.

Screenings allow participants to learn their risk of stroke and get tips on how to reduce risk factors.

Screenings will take place at the following times:

UK Chandler Hospital North Lobby (by the courtyard leading to the dentistry building), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, May 3
Health Education Center, Chandler Hospital Pavilion A, first floor, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 8
Kentucky Clinic (3rd floor across from the deli), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 17
Good Samaritan Hospital Cafe, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 22

According to the American Stroke Association:

About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a new or recurrent stroke. That means, on average, a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
Stroke kills more than 137,000 people a year -- that's about one of every 18 deaths. Stroke is the he No. 4 cause of death in the U.S.
On average, every 4 minutes someone dies of stroke.
About 40 percent of stroke deaths occur in males, and 60 percent in females.
The 2006 stroke death rates per 100,000 population for specific groups were 41.7 for white males, 41.1 for white females, 67.7 for black males and 57.0 for black females.
Americans will pay about $73.7 billion in 2010 for stroke-related medical costs and disability.

UK HealthCare also offers a stroke risk card and education sheet online. For more information, or to download these forms, visit http://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/stroke/.