Spectrum Health Announces Variety of Stroke Awareness Events

Stroke Third Leading Cause of Death in U.S.

Every 45 seconds someone in America has a stroke. In fact, stroke is the third leading cause of death in this country and a leading cause of disability. An estimated two-thirds of stroke survivors require long-term rehabilitation as a result of having experienced a stroke.

Spectrum Health will work to increase awareness about the impact of stroke by holding several events in May, National Stroke Awareness Month. A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery, or a blood vessel breaks interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. Eighty percent of strokes can be avoided if people understand and manage their own individual risk factors.

Free Screenings

Free blood pressure screenings and stroke risk evaluations will be conducted one-on-one by Spectrum Health professionals at the following times and locations:

Monday, May 16, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Butterworth Hospital, Room 1710B (off main lobby)
100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids

Tuesday, May 17, 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Butterworth Hospital, Room 1710B (off main lobby)
100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids

Wednesday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rehab and Nursing Center, Recreation Room
4118 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids

Wednesday, May 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
United Hospital, Conference Room A
615 S. Bower St., Greenville

Thursday, May 19, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Blodgett Hospital, Guild Room 2
1840 Wealthy St. SE, Grand Rapids

Friday, May 20, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Rehab and Nursing Center, Front Lobby
750 Fuller Ave., Grand Rapids

Friday, May 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kelsey Hospital, Community Room
418 Washington Ave., Lakeview

Web Chat

The public will be able to ask questions about strokes this month when Archit Bhatt, MD, stroke medical director, Spectrum Health Medical Group, holds an online chat on Friday, May 13, at noon at www.spectrum-health.org/onlinechat.

Free Seminar

Bhatt will speak about stroke risks and treatment at a free seminar on Monday, May 23, at 7 p.m. at Blodgett Hospital. People interested in attending should call 616.267.2626 and select option 4 to register.

Online Risk Assessment

Spectrum Health also has an online stroke risk assessment posted at http://www.spectrumhealth.org/strokerisk for people who want to learn their personal risk factors and what they can do to prevent stroke.

More information about stroke is available at www.spectrum-health.org/stroke.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which includes nine hospitals and 180 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 17,700 employees. The organization provided $115.9 million in community benefit during its 2010 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.