NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (May 20, 2019) — In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, Mobile Life Support Services, the largest emergency medical provider in the Hudson Valley, is raising awareness about stroke by educating the public of its symptoms and methods of prevention.
According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the leading cause of death and preventable disability in the U.S. A stroke can happen to anyone at any time and is caused when a clot or rupture interrupts blood flow to the brain, depriving the brain of oxygen-rich blood and its cells. There are three types of stroke: Ischemic is caused by a blood clot, hemorrhagic is caused by a rupture and transient ischemic attached (TIA) or “mini stroke” is caused by a temporary blockage. An estimated 15 percent of ischemic strokes occur in young adults and adolescents.
An estimated one in four stroke survivors is at risk for another stroke. Fortunately, up to 80 percent of second strokes may be preventable. With a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise, individuals can reduce their risk of a stroke. Certain medications and a sedentary lifestyle can increase one’s risk. Smoking drastically increases the risk of stroke as well as heart, lung and vascular disease. Methods of prevention for stroke include the management of high blood pressure and use of aspirin or other medicines. High blood pressure, which is defined as a reading of 130/80 or higher, is the most common controllable cause of stroke.
At the sign of a stroke, it’s important to act FAST – an acronym used to help spot warning signs of stroke:
- Face drooping
- Arm weakness
- Speech difficulty
- Time to call 911
Additional symptoms may include sudden trouble seeing or walking, as well as sudden severe headaches.
“With all of the advancements made for patients suffering from a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke in the last decade, so much can be done to improve the patient’s outcome,” said Scott Woebse, Mobile Life President and CEO. “Public awareness and early detection by EMS leads to prompt notification to the hospital and immediate neuro-intervention, which gives our patients their best chance for minimal or no deficits and a quicker recovery.”
The course of treatment varies depending on the type of stroke a patient is experiencing. If addressed quickly, an ischemic stroke may be treated by administering a clot-busting drug known as alteplase. The drug must be given to a stroke patient within 90 minutes of symptom onset for the best chance of a full recovery. For a hemorrhagic stroke, once the cause of the bleed has been identified, a doctor may choose one of the following treatment options: The insertion of surgical clips or coils into an aneurism, surgery or methods to control high blood pressure. Anticoagulants, or blood thinners, will be prescribed for patients diagnosed with a TIA.
Mobile Life is committed to the mission of decreasing mortality and morbidity from heart disease and stroke. The company’s more than 500 emergency service professionals are trained in early recognition and utilize treatment modalities and medications researched and developed by the American Heart Association (AHA). Mobile Life is also an AHA Authorized Provider of CPR and emergency cardiovascular care courses. Its New Windsor headquarters has been an American Heart Association Community Training Center for more than 20 years.
For a full list of available courses, or to learn more about Mobile Life, visit the company’s website at www.mobilelife.com.
About Mobile Life Support Services, Inc.
Mobile Life Support Services, Inc. is a New York State Certified Advanced Life Support paramedic ambulance company that provides emergency services to communities and healthcare facilities throughout the Hudson Valley Region of New York State, including the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester. Founded in 1981 by Rick and Gayle Metzger, Mobile Life is composed of more than 500 EMS professionals across the region and operates a fleet of more than 60 ambulances and 26 stations. With a collective population of more than 1,000,000 residents, Mobile Life handles approximately 100,000 calls per year. For more information, visit www.mobilelife.com.
