The Stroke Center fair will be Thursday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the west lobby of WVU Hospitals.
WVU's Stroke Center is a national leader in stroke treatment and the only nationally certified Primary Stroke Center in the region.
Fair attendees will have the opportunity to talk with WVU's stroke experts, learn about stroke prevention and symptoms, explore advances in stroke treatment, see the rehabilitation options available for stroke patients, and get information on WVU's new stroke support group. There will also be a poster display highlighting stroke research at WVU.
The Stroke Center at WVU has an emergency response team available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to evaluate a stroke and perform the appropriate treatment in time to minimize damage.
In the event of a stroke, the most important thing to do is call 911. Emergency responders can begin treatment on the scene and can alert the Emergency Department at WVU Hospitals that a stroke patient is on the way.
According to the American Heart Association, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. It is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability and the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. Every three to four minutes, someone dies of a stroke.
The symptoms of a stroke are:
- A sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- The sudden onset of confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
- A sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- A sudden difficulty walking, dizziness or loss of balance and coordination
- The sudden onset of a severe headache with no known cause
If you think you or someone you are with may be having a stroke, call 911 immediately.