June is Stroke Awareness Month in Canada

Public invited to view education displays Wednesday at Chinook Regional Hospital

LETHBRIDGE — Great strides have been made in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease, yet heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death and hospitalization in Canada.

An estimated 1.6 million Canadians are living with heart disease or the effects of a stroke, according to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. But with awareness comes hope. Death rates have fallen by more than 75 per cent in Canada, largely due to advancements in surgical research, medications and prevention.

What is a stroke? It’s a sudden loss of brain function caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Both cause brain cells (neurons) in the affected area to die.

The public is invited to view educational displays from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday in the atrium of Chinook Regional Hospital (CRH). Participants include the Heart and Stroke Foundation; CRH Cardiac Function Clinic; CRH Stroke Service; CRH Pharmacy; Cardiovascular Health and Strategic Clinical Network; Alberta Healthy Living Program; CRH Speech/Language Pathology; Early Supported Discharge Program; and Post-Acute Rehabilitation Program.

Learn about strategies to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and find out what services are available locally to promote healthy living and cardiovascular risk-factor awareness. Find out the signs of a stroke and what to do if you think you or someone else is having a stroke.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

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