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                                                        From the desk of: Doris R. Hale,

Executive Director of the Capland Center

For Communication Disorders.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are more than 700,000 strokes each year in the United States and that stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. For African-Americans, stroke is more common and more deadly than for any other ethnic or racial group in the United States.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain stops because it is blocked by a clot. This causes the brain cells in the immediate are to die because oxygen and nutrients cannot get through. There are two types of strokes-ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. This type of stoke is the most common. A hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a blood vessel that breaks and bleeds into the brain.

Both types of strokes can affect the ability to speak, write or understand what is being said to you. A person may be unable to speak clearly or unable to speak at all. Speech can also become slurred making it difficult for the listener to understand. Cognitive communication impairments may be present such as attention and memory problems as well as difficulty with problem solving skills. Swallowing difficulty or the inability to swallow can result from a stroke as well as voice problems. Speech language pathologist work with people who are experiencing any and all of the related communication and swallowing problems as a result of a stroke.

As a speech-language pathologist who has worked with hundreds of stroke victims in the last 7 years, I feel that awareness and education about strokes is the key to preventing a stroke. While a family history of stroke plays a role in your risk for a stroke, there are may risk factors that you can control. These risk factors for a stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and obesity. It is recommended that you work closely with your physician to control your blood pressure and manage your diabetes. Exercising and maintaining a healthy diet play a key role in stroke prevention. Symptoms of a stroke should not be ignored. If you experience any of the following, please do not hesitate to seek medical attention: sudden numbness or weakness of the arm, face or leg; sudden episodes of confusion, difficulty speaking, vision problems, difficulty walking, loss of balance and a sudden severe headache. Don't wait for the symptoms to improve or go away-seek help immediately! Communication is a lifesaver.