MAY IS NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Every 45 seconds,someone in the United States has a stroke.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the nation, accounting for 1 in every 16 deaths. It is the top cause of disability, and the single biggest reason why people are admitted to nursing homes. Stroke can cause paralysis, speech problems, loss of sensation, difficulties with thinking and memory, coma, and even death. Recovery can be long and is often incomplete, creating great burden on loved ones as well as patients. The risk for a stroke in African Americans is almost twice that of whites, and, while stroke is primarily thought of as a disease related to age, people of all ages, including children, can suffer from stroke.
The quality of care for stroke remains a critical part of healthcare services for Americans, including the thousands injured by and recovering from stroke in populated regions like Suffolk County. The Stroke Center at Stony Brook is dedicated to establishing the highest standard of medical care for individuals affected by stroke. Led by Candice J. Perkins, MD, fellowship trained in stroke and board certified in Neurology and in Vascular Neurology, Stony Brook's Stroke Center is the only in Suffolk County to be certified by both The Joint Commission and the New York State Department of Health.
At Stony Brook, a Brain Attack Team takes action against stroke. Specialized stroke neurologists and other highly skilled team members are available 24/7 to treat victims of stroke. Advanced technology and clot-busting medication give stroke victims the best chance to prevent brain injury.
Stony Brook's stroke program reached new heights with the addition of Henry H. Woo, MD. A nationally known endovascular neurosurgeon-the only one in Suffolk County-and interventional radiologist, Dr. Woo is director of the newly established Cerebrovascular Center at Stony Brook. Dr. Woo's expertise and cutting-edge techniques, including innovative stenting, offer increased options for patients in the treatment of cerebral aneurysm, endovascular management of acute stroke, vascular malformations of the central nervous system, and carotid and intracranial atherosclerosis. He is adept at using the newest imaging and technology systems to remove clots, seal off aneurysms, and open up clogged arteries, all without traditional surgery. Almost immediately upon joining Stony Brook last year, Dr. Woo made history when he became the first on Long Island to implant a Wingspan® Stent System with the Gateway® PTA Balloon Catheter to successfully open blocked arteries in the brain of a patient.
Time lost is brain lost. Call 911 immediately if you recognize the sudden onset of any of the following warning signs of stroke in yourself or someone else.
•numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
•confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
•trouble seeing in one or both eyes
•trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
•severe headache with no known cause.
In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month and National Hospital Week, nurses from the Hospital's Neurology Unit will be offering free stroke risk assessment screenings for members of the community on Wednesday, May 21, at the Smith Haven Mall, Center Court, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
To find out more information about our Stroke Center and screenings, call Stony Brook University Medical Center at (631) 444-4000.
