UPMC Offers Stroke Awareness Tips for Women

Stroke is the third leading cause of death for American women, surpassed only by heart disease and cancer. Every day, more than 270 women in the United States will die from stroke. In support of National Stroke Awareness Month, the UPMC Stroke Institute urges women and all Americans to take action to prevent and to learn the warning signs of stroke.

“Patients greatly improve their chances of successful treatment and recovery if they become familiar with the symptoms of stroke and if they rapidly call 9-1-1 to summon help,” said Lawrence Wechsler, M.D., director of the UPMC Stroke Institute, which offers a round-the-clock stroke assessment and treatment team.”At the UPMC Stroke Institute, patients who are evaluated within the first three hours of stroke symptoms may be treated with the clot-busting drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which can be highly effective in reversing the potentially devastating effects of stroke. And for those who are not evaluated within three hours, we also are involved in promising research that includes treatment outside of that time frame. Stroke is always an emergency. Seek treatment right away to improve your chances of having a better outcome,” said Dr. Wechsler.(Source: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine : June 2007)