Service Animals

United Stroke Alliance in partnership with Medtronic is launching a new resource for Stroke Support Groups called The Booster Box. Included in the box is everything a leader needs to conduct a support group meeting for up to 24 attendees.

To receive your free Booster Box please call our office at
309-688-5450 or email info@strokecamp.org to request yours.

Subscriptions will be available for purchase and information will be inside your free box.

Show Me The Booster Box

*****************************************************************

*****************************************************************

The following was contributed by
Hanna Hughes

Associate Marketing Communications Specialist

Medtronic
Cardiac Rhythm & Heart Failure

8200 Coral Sea Street NE, MVS21 | Mounds View, MN 55112| USA

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEPTEMBER IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
AWARENESS MONTH.

Learn more about what could be at the heart of your stroke.

Atrial fibrillation (also referred to as AF or AFib) is a major risk factor for stroke. (1) Atrial fibrillation is a common condition in which the upper chambers of the heart, or atria, fibrillate. This means that they beat very fast and irregularly, so the heart can’t pump blood effectively to the rest of the body.

AFib increases the risk of stroke more than 5 times, (1) but often goes undetected since it can happen infrequently or without symptoms. When someone has AFib, the blood is not moving through the heart the way it should, and blood clots can form within the left atria. If a clot dislodges, it can travel to the brain and result in a stroke.

September is Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month. Take time this month to learn about Atrial Fibrillation and if you are at risk. If the cause of your stroke is unknown, it’s very important to determine if you have AFib. If AFib is found, your doctor may change your medications or suggest other treatments in order to reduce your risk of having another stroke.

(1) Wolf PA, Abbott RD, Kannel WB. Atrial fibrillation as an independent risk factor for stroke: The Framingham Study. Stroke. August 1991;22(8):983-988.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hope to get more information on Atrial Fibrillation to post throughout the month.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Stroke deaths on the rise for some Americans

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stroke deaths on the rise for some Americans

By AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS

Since at least the 1960s, the rate of Americans who die from stroke has been on the decline. But that progress has slowed, and in some cases reversed, according to a new federal report.

The report, issued Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that the rate of stroke deaths among U.S. adults fell 38 percent between 2000 and 2015. But that pace has slowed or even reversed in 38 states in recent years. Florida saw the biggest reversal, with stroke death rates increasing nearly 11 percent each year from 2013 to 2015.

African-Americans are most likely to die from stroke, but stroke death rates rose 5.8 percent each year among Hispanics from 2013 to 2015. Deaths from stroke also increased 4.2 percent each year in the South during that time.

If declines in stroke mortality had maintained the same pace from 2013 to 2015, an estimated 32,593 stroke deaths may not have occurred, the report said.

The findings are “a wake-up call,” said CDC director Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., and underscore the importance of identifying and treating risk factors, geographic trends and other factors that may be slowing progress.

“We know the majority of strokes are preventable and we must improve our efforts to reduce America’s stroke burden,” she said.

The report did not identify the reasons for the slowdown, but other studies have pointed to increased numbers of Americans with stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.

(Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Mitchell S.V. Elkind, M.D., a professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University, said the report’s findings are worrisome and underscore the importance of efforts to identify and control risk factors across age groups.

Elkind said maintaining a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and avoiding tobacco are important to building healthy habits that can have a big impact over a lifetime.

“It’s never too early to start working on a healthier lifestyle and it’s never too late to change bad habits,” said Elkind, also chair of the American Stroke Association.

About 800,000 Americans have a stroke each year, but 80 percent of strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes, according to the CDC.

Elkind said increases in obesity and chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure among young people could lead to greater stroke risk as those patients get older.

“This could be the tip of the iceberg because complications of heart disease and these chronic conditions haven’t caught up to them yet,” he said.

Increasing access to health care is important to identify and treat risk factors early, Elkind said. “You can’t screen people and treat them if they can’t get in or afford to see a doctor.”

The increase in stroke death rates among Hispanics and Southerners reveal the need for greater outreach and a closer look at what factors are driving the numbers in specific populations, he said.

“We can’t treat everyone the same,” Elkind said. “We need to treat them with cultural awareness and sensitivity.”

American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown called the report distressing but not unexpected given previous projections.

“This report gives us even more reason to aggressively continue our efforts, especially in multicultural communities and to reach people at younger ages, as we are seeing more strokes in people in their 30s and 40s,” she said.

The CDC pointed to efforts to reduce stroke risks and improve stroke care, such as the Million Heartsinitiative and the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program.

Million Hearts is co-led by CDC and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2022. The Coverdell program improves collaboration between hospitals, emergency medical services and outpatient providers, in addition to educating the community to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke, which include face drooping, arm weakness and speech difficulty.

“Stroke is a real medical emergency,” said Robert Merritt, who works in the CDC’s Division of Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. “Know the signs, and call 911 and get people to the hospital.”

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Do you know how to recognize a stroke?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know how to recognize a stroke?

Do you know what you need to do when you recognize one?

Below are the guide lines.

Memorize them or print them out and keep in your purse or wallet because you never know when you might be the one to save a person's life, or even your own.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

80% of strokes could be avoided.

Every 4 minutes someone dies from a stroke.

There are life saving methods to minimize the effects of stroke - IF YOU GET TREATMENT IN TIME.

Up until now we have been urging you to remember the acronym F.A.S.T.

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

Time: If you observe any of these signs call 9-1-1 immediately.

This simple test is still valid, however, we have been finding out that, while people are getting better recognizing the F.A.S. part, there is a reluctance to take the T. part seriously.

Here is a better guideline we want to promote:

BE-FASTER

B - Balance: Sudden loss of balance.

E - Eyes: Sudden blurry or loss of vision.

F - Face: Sudden numbness, one side drooping - can they smile.

A - Arms: Sudden weakness in arms - can you raise both?

S - Speech: Slurred or mumbling speech.

T - Time: Call 911 NOW

E - Emergency

R - Room: Get to the ER by ambulance, they know what to do FASTER.

Helping survivors at our stroke camps I found that some of them, sufferers themselves or their caregivers, have driven their own cars to the ER because it seemed faster than waiting for an ambulance to arrive. This is not a good idea because many things can happen on the way such as long stop lights, mechanical breakdown, accident, flat tire, or a traffic jam which could mean life or death or serious debilitation to the sufferer.

It is estimated that in each minute of a ischemic stroke, 1.9 million neurons, 14 billion synapses, and 12 km of myelinated fibers are destroyed.

You may think you can get there faster than waiting for an ambulance but the truth is the sufferer will be getting diagnosis and treatment on the way to the ER in the ambulance, and the ER will be getting the stroke team ready and waiting at the door, with a good diagnosis and proper tests in mind. Some ambulances in some cities are even able to administer the clot busting drug TPA on the way to the ER. My hope is that all cities will have this capability, and soon.

Time is extremely important when

treating stroke.

Sunday, August 12, 2018

Stroke Camp Tropical Island Getaway

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We conduct weekend camps all over the U.S. We go border to border, ocean to ocean, for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Every year we have a different theme for dress-up, fun and team games. This year our theme is Tropical Island Getaway. Here are a few highlights of one of the camps I attended recently in Illinois.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tropical Island Face Paint

Island Totem Building Contest

Shark Toss

Flamingo Catching

Island Girls

Sea Shell Hunt

Island Dancing

Island Songs

Crazy Tourist

Limbo

Limbo Winner

Island Drums

Island Music Therapist

Pirates

Island Food

More Crazy Tourists

Island Hand Waxers

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you would like to attend one of our camps you may contact us through our website: www.strokecamp.org where you'll find more information and a phone number to call.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Aquatherapy and Visualization

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are many sports professionals who do visualization. If you've ever watched the down hill skiers during the winter Olympics you'll know what I mean. You'll see them standing at the gate with their eyes closed and their head moving back and forth as they visualize every flag and turn on the hill. Here's an article I took from the StrokeNet Newsletter written by a stroke survivor who has applied that to his stroke recovery.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dancing with Stroke

By Jim Sinclair

Aquatherapy and Visualization

By coincidence, my return from Arizona to my primary residence in Winnipeg just happened to coincide with one of my favorite weekends of the year. As a bit of a golf fanatic, much of that weekend was consumed watching the Masters Golf Tournament. During the third round of the Masters, the performance of Bubba Watson reminded me of the importance of visualization in my journey of recovery following stroke.

I believe that in addition to their physical prowess; what separates great professional golfers from those of us who are mediocre amateurs is their ability to clearly visualize the shot they are about to attempt and then physically execute that shot. During my three month hospital stay following my strokes I had a large number of excellent therapists from various disciplines assist me in my journey of recovery. My primary focus throughout the three months was trying to learn to use a walker rather than a wheelchair.

With a burning desire to be able to walk independently so as to continue to golf, I was most eager to cooperate and enthusiastically undertake each and every activity recommended by my therapists except for one situation. During my last two weeks in the HSC Rehabilitation hospital a recreation therapist by the name of Clayton recommended that I participate in Aquatherapy in the hospital’s pool. For the first time in this journey I felt frightened. For most of my life I had a fear of water and a fear of drowning.

When Clayton first recommended the Aquatherapy I protested quite vehemently because I could not understand how I could be expected to do this when I was still not capable of getting out of my wheelchair nor stand independently. With a great deal of trepidation and a couple of sleepless nights I finally agreed to give it a try. On the appointed day Clayton transported me from my hospital room to the pool’s dressing room where he assisted me in putting on my swim suit.

When Clayton wheeled me out to the pool area my near panic subsided somewhat as we were joined by the two final year physiotherapy students whose practicum entailed working with me, as they clarified that they were there should Clayton need their assistance. I felt a moment of enlightenment when clayton slipped a harness under my torso so that a lift could raise me out of my chair to transfer me gently into the pool right next to one of the sides of the pool.

Clayton instructed me to grab the side of the pool and hang on. I grasped the side first with my good right hand and then added my feeble stroke affected left hand. The rest of that session entailed my hanging on to the side of the pool and moving around just a little, within a few minutes I experienced the joy of realizing that I was standing erect in the pool using the buoyancy of the water and just touching the side for balance.

A few days later when I was taken to the pool area I was cautiously optimistic as I was aware of what to expect and felt safe. The second session was a repeat of the first except Clayton had me work my way along the side to the deep end. To my amazement Clayton pointed out that there were parallel bars in the deep end and asked me to stretch out and reach for the closest bar, assuring me that the water would keep me buoyed up when I let go of the side and reached for the bar.

I reached out in confidence knowing that earlier that day my two physiotherapy practicum students had advanced me to setting aside my walker to use a cane for the first time. The next day I was excited, eager and looking forward to attend my third Aquatherapysession... I had been told tha the following day my occupational therapist would be going to my home to do an assessment to determine if it was safe for me to return home and determine what work would need to be done to our house so that I could function safely at home with a wheelchair and a walker.

My third Aquatherapy session began with my working my way directly to the parallel bars in the deep end. With reaffirming encouragement from Clayton I maneuvered myself in between the parallel bars where Clayton had me take a few steps back and forth holding on to the parallel bars. After a few minutes of that I mustered the courage to let go of the bars and to my amazement I was walking independently using only the water bouncy to keep me up.

That night was my best night in hospital in that I went to sleep holding the thought of my walk in the water and envisioning that I could walk independently. I knew that if I could do it in the water I could do it out of the water. The next morning I awoke full of positive excitement. I could still envision myself walking independently, I was aware that if my occupational therapist was doing a home assessment, I might soon return home.

My day began with my physiotherapy session which my youngest son was attending to see my progress. My regular physiotherapist Becky asked me to demonstrate how I had used the cane the day before with the two students.. Becky handed me the cane. I mentioned that the physiotherapy students had me use the cane in my left hand as they were concerned about the issues presented by my right hip that had been preplaced. I told Becky that since my left hand was my stroke affected side I would rather try using the cane in my right hand.

She placed the cane n my right hand and punted to the doorway telling me to see how many steps I could take towards the door with the cane. All that was in my mind was the same vision of walking independently that I had experienced earlier that morning. After about ten steps Becky barked “Stop. Do you realize the cane is not touching the floor? You are carrying it. Put the cane down and keep going you are finished for today” So I kept walking to the elevator, went back to my room. I credit my ability to walk for the past ten years to the Aquatherapy sessions which resulted in the ability to envision myself walking independently.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009

Sunday, July 29, 2018

Service Animals

> Stroke Support Group Finder Link<

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have included articles about animals for stroke survivors before. I think they are a good idea. Here's another one from Stroke Connection about service animals, which are not the same as emotional support animals. They clarify this difference at the end of the article. You may also gasp, as I did, at the potential cost of a service animal. Their web site is at:
http://strokeconnection.strokeassociation.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Service Animals

BY JON CASWELL

We interviewed Mary Burch, Ph.D., director of the Good Canine Program at the American Kennel Club, and Michelle Williams, public relations coordinator at Canine Companions for Independence. Canine Companions for Independence is a national, non-profit organization that provides expertly-trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans free of charge.

SC: In what ways might a service animal help a stroke survivor?

MB: People who have had strokes may have mobility issues, problems with memory and fine motor difficulties. Service dogs can be trained to help a person who has had a stroke by assisting with mobility — large dogs can steady the person who is wobbly; or the service dog can encourage the person to get up and walk — it’s hard to turn down a dog who wants to go outside. Service dogs can be trained to get things that have been dropped and bring them to the person, and they can be used as a part of a fine-motor physical rehab program. For example, the person with a stroke can squeeze an exercise ball, which is a boring task. They could also have a daily goal of brushing the dog, and this becomes functional rehab. Sometimes, after a stroke, the person tends to stay in the house. A service dog can provide companionship.

MW: Others may benefit from incorporating a trained service animal into therapeutic or rehabilitative exercises to help the individual meet their goals, whether they relate to motor control, speech, or ADLs. Individuals who use manual wheelchairs may also benefit from a service animal’s assistance in propelling the chair.

SC: How does someone go about getting a service animal?

MW: There are many organizations that provide service animals and interested parties can look at the Assistance Dogs International (ADI)website, where ADI-accredited organizations are listed. To apply for a service dog from Canine Companions for Independence, the first step is to learn more about our services and our assistance dogs on our website. Then, interested parties can submit a request for an application online to begin the application process.

SC: What are the potential barriers to getting a service animal?

MW: Sometimes, cost and wait times can be a barrier for people interested in receiving a service animal. Canine Companions candidates are placed on a waitlist ranging from a year to two years. Canine Companions provides its expertly-trained assistance dogs completely free of charge to people with disabilities. It is important for interested parties to carefully consider how they will meet the dog’s needs including feeding, toileting, exercise, grooming, training, covering the cost of veterinary care, and making the commitment to stay in regular contact with the organization for the duration of the placement.

MB: A common barrier is cost since the cost of a service dog can be from $10,000 to $30,000. Some agencies will advertise there is no charge for the dog. While this often means they don’t make the person with the disability pay for the dog, they may expect that there will be a fundraising campaign to raise the money that covers costs related to training and care. In cases where the dog is “free” to the service dog user, and costs are to be covered by community fundraisers or sponsorships, there is typically an agreement on the front end that specifies if the money must be paid before the dog is delivered.

Finding an available dog that is trained can be a problem. Also, if the person who has had a stroke is living alone or is spending a good part of the day alone, caring for a dog might be difficult.

Housing can also be an issue if the person lives in a no-pets apartment or a facility that cannot meet the needs of the dog, for example, no yard.

SC: Can emotional support animals be good for survivors, too?

MB: If the person who has had a stroke mainly needs company and a dog to spend time with, an emotional support animal might be fine. However, these dogs are not trained to perform specific tasks, so it should be understood that their primary job is to provide comfort and companionship.

MW: Some individuals may find that they would benefit from the relationship with an animal but do not need assistance in public spaces or through specific trained tasks. In this case, they may be interested in researching the options of getting a pet or emotional support animal. Canine Companions for Independence does not train or place emotional support animals; generally speaking, a good first step is to research local animal shelters or breed rescue programs.

This information is provided as a resource to our readers. The tips, products or resources listed or linked to have not been reviewed or endorsed by the American Stroke Association.

See also:

Finley the Service Dog: A Story of True Love

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Stroke/Heat Stroke? What's the Difference?

> Stroke Support Group Finder Link<

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I must admit this is the hottest summer that I remember. Now, maybe that's because my memory of a previous summer faded after my memory of last winter being the coldest I remember. I do remember thinking last winter that I wish summer would hurry up and get here, and I don't care how hot it gets just so it gets here. I was wrong, I found out I do care. I mowed and trimmed my yard over the weekend, and it felt like I could ring a quart of sweat out of my clothes. It was a prime time for a heat stroke.

This weeks post taken from the American Heart Association will show you some things you can do to protect yourself from heat stroke. I'm sure we all know a heat stroke is not the same as an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke and the AHA will explain that difference in about the middle of this article. They want people to know that heat strokes are dangerous, too, and they can sneak up on you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protect your heart and health during the ‘dog days’ of summer

By AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION NEWS
https://news.heart.org

Summer is a time for barbecues and other outdoor fun, but it’s also a time for sweltering heat. And experts say everyone, especially the elderly and very young, need to know how to limit the sometimes-deadly effects of high temperatures.

The ancient Greeks and Romans called the sultriest days of summer the “dog days.” The Old Farmer’s Almanac marks the time as 40 days from July 3 to Aug. 11, coinciding with the rising of the star Sirius, also called the Dog Star.

Already this year, the dog days have proved dangerous.

Heat warnings and advisories have been issued over a large swath of the country, with heat waves smothering the Northeast and shifting into the South and West. In Quebec, at least 70 people reportedly have died from a heat wave hitting eastern and central Canada.

More than 600 people die every year in the U.S. from heat-related illnesses that are preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency estimates more than 65,000 Americans visit an emergency room for acute heat illness each summer.

“I think people underestimate how quickly it happens. And when it starts to happen, if someone is progressing to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, you lose your self-awareness,” said Dr. Robert O’Connor, professor and chair of emergency medicine at the University of Virginia. “It’s important to keep an eye on those around you for heat-related problems. If someone is flushed, dizzy or uncoordinated, it can be an early sign.”

Dehydration can begin within just a few hours of extreme heat, so drinking extra fluids is important, especially when taking certain medications. Fatigue, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, sleepiness and dry mouth can all be signs of dehydration.

Dehydration causes the heart to work harder, putting it at risk. Hydration helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles work efficiently.

A 2016 Environmental Protection Agency analysis of heat-related deaths said high temperatures could be a factor in many more deaths than officials realize – or count.

“By studying how daily death rates vary with temperature in selected cities, scientists have found that extreme heat contributes to far more deaths than the official death certificates might suggest,” the report said. “This is because the stress of a hot day can increase the chance of dying from a heart attack, other heart conditions, or respiratory diseases such as pneumonia.”

While infants and the elderly are more vulnerable to problems from heat, O’Connor said sometimes medicines can make someone more sensitive to heat and dehydration.

“They should talk to their doctor and look up their medications to see if it predisposes them,” he said.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious medical emergencies that require treatment. Both can cause headaches, nausea or vomiting. Heat stroke also can cause a high fever, warm skin with no sweating and confusion or unconsciousness.

Click here for a video of Stroke/Heat Stroke? What's the Difference?

Heat stroke is not the same as a stroke. Stroke happens when a blood vessel to the brain either bursts or is blocked by a clot, causing a decrease in oxygen flow to the brain.

Beyond some of the obvious and sometimes extreme physical symptoms brought on by sweltering temperatures, a recent study showed it could affect how we think. And it doesn’t just affect the most vulnerable.

A group of researchers at Harvard University in Boston published an observational study last weekshowing students who lived in dormitories without air conditioning during a heat wave performed worse on a series of cognitive tests compared with students who lived in air-conditioned dorms.

The study was conducted over 12 consecutive days in the summer of 2016. Students living in buildings without AC experienced 13.4 percent longer reaction times on color-word tests, and 13.3 percent lower scores on addition/subtraction tests compared with students in air-conditioned rooms. The research showed students in rooms with AC were not just faster in their responses, but also more accurate.

Hot summers and heat waves won’t be going away any time soon, according to federal research. In fact, unusually high temperatures have become more common in recent decades, and heat waves are expected to become longer, more frequent and more intense in the future, according to the EPA and the CDC.

O’Connor said thinking ahead and being prepared in the heat will help prevent trouble.

“Drink plenty of fluids and limit the amount of time you are in the heat. Even if someone comes into a cooler environment for a few minutes every hour, that can prevent a heat-related illness,” he said.

“Limit outdoor activity to early morning or late evening, and stay in the shade,” O’Connor said. “It might be tough if you are working outside or on the golf course. Soak a towel in cold water and put it around your neck. Evaporative cooling, dousing in cold water and letting it evaporate, is the best way to eliminate heat.”

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org.
**************************************************************
American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to the American Heart Association News. See full terms of use.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Taking the Stage for Aphasia