U.S. Department of Health and Human Services NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News National Institute on Aging (NIA) http://www.nia.nih.gov/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 CONTACT: Brandon Alvarez Montgomery, 301-565-0770 Ext. 247, bamontgomery@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or Pocinkik@xxxxxxxxxxx STROKES AFFECT THOUSANDS OF HISPANICS EACH YEAR -- LEARN TO RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS More than 700,000 strokes occur in the U.S. every year. For older Hispanic Americans, stroke is the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Strokes also cause more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease. Most often, a stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot. Brain cells are damaged or begin to die because they don't get the oxygen and nutrients they need. The brain then stops sending signals to other parts of the body that control things like speaking, thinking, and walking. Learning more about stroke can help you act in time to save a family member or friend. New treatments greatly reduce the damage caused by a stroke, but you need to act quickly. Knowing the symptoms of a stroke, calling 911 immediately, and getting to a hospital are critical. And making lifestyle changes can help prevent a stroke. For example, it is important to stop smoking, eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and work to control high blood pressure and manage diabetes. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is offering a free fact sheet in Spanish with information on recognizing the warning signs of stroke, lowering risk factors, and finding resources for patients and their families. To order a free copy of "Accidente Cerebrovascular", call 1-800-222-2225 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. A Spanish-speaking information specialist is available to respond to calls. You also can order this and other Spanish publications on healthy aging on the NIA website at www.niapublications.org. To view a version of this press release in Spanish, please visit http://www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20051116sp_stroke.h tm. The NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the special needs of older people. The Institute is committed to making health information available to older Hispanic Americans and their families. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- "The Nation's Medical Research Agency" -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov. ## This NIH News Release is available online at: http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/nov2005/nia-16.htm. To subscribe (or unsubscribe) from this list, go to http://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nihpress&A=1.
