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As a valued supporter of
National Stroke Association
you will receive Brain Alert
six times a year to keep you
up-to-date on what we are
doing in the community.

JUNE 2008     

Steps Against Recurrent Stroke (STARS)
As a stroke survivor or a caregiver for a stroke survivor, did you know that having a stroke puts you at greater risk for another stroke? Now, National Stroke Association has partnered with Bristol-Meyers Squibb Sanofi pharmaceuticals to develop the STARS program. STARS stands for Steps Against Recurrent Stroke and is a program to make sure you know there is so much you can do to reduce your risk for a recurrent stroke including:
Stop smoking Keep blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes under control If you have an irregular heartbeat, a condition called AF, work with your doctor to control it Eat a healthy diet Increase physical activity One very important thing you can do is follow your doctor's directions and take your medicine, even if you feel fine.
You don't have to have another stroke. Be a Stroke Smart Star. To get a pamphlet and more information on the STARS program contact National Stroke Association at 1-800-STROKES or www.stroke.org/STARS.

New Presidential Coin Helps Highlight National Stroke Awareness Month
	On May 14th, National Stroke Association joined the United States Mint in celebrating the release of the new President John Quincy Adams $1 coin. Our nation's sixth president suffered a stroke on the floor of the House of Representatives in 1848. He died just days later. John Quincy Adams served as president from 1824 until 1828. He then was elected to another term in Congress where he suffered a stroke. According to the US Mint, this sixth coin in the Presidential series may be used for everyday commerce but is also intended to be an educational tool. For more information, go to: www.stroke.org/coin.

NEW FOR YOU 

StrokeSmart™ Magazine
	Stroke can change your perspective, teach you important life lessons, or give you a new purpose. At least, that's what happened with the people in the next issue of StrokeSmart™. We know Bonnie Franklin as an actress, but to Samuel B. Franklin, she was a loving caregiver. Sharing her father's stroke recovery journey changed Bonnie's view of the world, she says for the better. When Jason Ledlie was a kid, his dad had a stroke while training for a triathlon. Now, as an adult, Jason is raising money for stroke education in a way that pays tribute to his
late father. And Wakie McBride has found a new mission since having a stroke - to spread hope to other survivors. Because she knows from experience that hope is an important part of recovery. Read about these people and more in the July/August 2008 issue of StrokeSmart™.

My Turn Discussion Guides

With the May/June 2008 issue, National Stroke Association launched discussion guides to help StrokeSmart™ readers apply the material they see in the magazine to their own lives and situations. Called My Turn, the discussion guides are linked to specific StrokeSmart™ articles and include a list of questions to discuss with a stroke support group or family. For a copy of the My Turn discussion guides on self-advocacy and medicine management, go to www.stroke.org/myturn or call (800) STROKES or (800) 787-6537.

ABCD2 Tool

The ABCD2 tool is a new tool that has been professionally validated to predict the risk of having a stroke following a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This easy-to-use tool has been made available for the use of medical professionals. The tool will also be available for download from the National Stroke Association website at http://www.stroke.org/.

"Explaining Stroke" Now in Spanish
National Stroke Association's brochure "Explaining Stroke" is now available in Spanish. An easy-to-understand guide to stroke, "Explaining Stroke" includes causes of stroke, types of stroke and how to reduce your risk for stroke. Visit National Stroke Association's online store for more information: www.stroke.org/SHOP

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

ON THE GO FOR STROKE 

Dance for Dignity 2008

Dance for Dignity 2008 was a grand success. Held in Denver, this year's event was a great success, with a 30% increase in both attendance and money raised, compared from the inaugural 2007 event. On May 9, 2008 we saw 120 people and raised just over $12,000 for National Stroke Association. Dance for Dignity was created to give stroke survivors a place to come with their friends and family to a place where they could let their hair down and enjoy an evening where they could dance without fear of being judged. Dance for Dignity was created in 2007 by young stroke survivor Melanie Wheless.

Ben Kaplan: Actively Surviving

Strokes can happen at any time, to most anybody, even if you're only five days old and an identical twin. This is Ben Kaplan's story. Or part of it anyway. Because after his stroke, Ben was diagnosed with both hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy. And it was not until Ben was seventeen was he able to make the correlations of hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy with his stroke as an infant. As an adult, Ben has been active in local politics, advocating for other stroke survivors by sharing the latest news developments with others. With his Bachelor's degree in Communications, Ben has worked professionally in PR and radio. He has also contracted for biotech companies, doing media research. Currently, Ben is working with the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Through it all, Kaplan has stayed positive. He feels fortunate for his station in life. By using restraint therapy and staying abreast of current developments in stroke therapy, Kaplan has remained strong and determined.

Stroke Segment to Air on Lifetime Television's "Health Corner"

On May 11th, Lifetime Television's "Health Corner" with host Leeza Gibbons aired a program on stroke survivor and Miss Arizona 1998, LeAnn Hendrix. Chronicling Ms. Hendrix's stroke and recovery, National Stroke Association's CEO Jim Baranski spoke on the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms. The program will air again on Lifetime Television on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. Central Standard Time.

National Stroke Association in Newsweek

We are pleased to announce that National Stroke Association's press release for National Stroke Awareness Month has been running in Newsweek (circulation approx. 3,160,000 weekly). The advertorial ran in the May 5th issue, and then again in the May 26th issue.

Change in the Weather: Life After Stroke
Mark McEwen, a fixture on CBS's The Early Show from 1987 to 2002, shares his stroke recovery journey in this inspiring book, Change in the Weather: Life After Stroke. In 2005, misdiagnosis delayed his stroke treatment and nearly cost him his life. Now a triumphant stroke survivor, McEwen shares insights into his life and what he wants you to know about stroke.
	"For the six million stroke survivors in this country, this is a book about humility, dignity, courage and never giving up. For the caregivers, it is a book about the trials and tribulations you have come to know all too well, and you will realize you are not alone. For the rest of us, it is a book about what you can do to save a life, including your own. Kudos to celebrity Mark McEwen for the courage to hare his stroke recovery journey. He is a true champion, committed to restoring dignity to stroke survivors." - James Baranski, CEO of National Stroke Association The book can be purchased for $26 at http://www.amazon.com/, http://www.bn.com/ and at your local bookstore.

THANK YOUR BRAIN 

National Men's Health Week: June 9-15, 2008

This year, June 9-15 is National Men's Health Week. This is a good opportunity to get to your doctor for a check-up, or encourage your loved ones to get to the doctor, to prevent against a possible future stroke. Afterall, incidence of high blood pressure rises in men over the age of 45. High blood pressure can lead to stroke. It's especially important for African American males to get regular check-ups. Compared with white males 45 to 54 years old, African Americans males in the same age group have a threefold greater risk of ischemic stroke. More than that, African Americans are twice as likely to die from stroke as Caucasians. The rate of first strokes in African Americans is almost double that of Caucasians. Be sure to get to your doctor, for an up-to-date evaluation of your health.

STROKE PROFESSIONALS 

New Professional Educational Programs Grand Rounds
	National Stroke Association's Professional Education Department has leaped into Spring 2008 with several exciting new educational programs. The Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis: Aggressive Risk Management Grand Rounds will begin in early summer 2008. This Grand Rounds is an update of the successful 2007 Intracranial Stenosis Grand Rounds and includes information on the SAMMPRIS trial.
Mid-summer 2008 brings the release of All About Stroke-Stroke for Primary Care Professionals (PCPs). This pilot program is a half-day symposium that will take place at four Stroke Centers. The goal of this program is to further educate PCPs on primary and secondary stroke prevention guidelines and best practices. The program will help strengthen the relationship, and thus patient transition, between the local Stroke Center and PCPs. If you are a hospital with strong PCP relationships please contact Lori Cavallo at lcavallo@stroke.org for consideration. Late-summer National Stroke Association will kick-off our most extensive Grand Rounds program to date, Recurrent Stroke Prevention: An Update on the Evidence and Opportunity. These Grand Rounds will be offered at 140 Stroke Centers nationwide. If your hospital has an interest in participating, please contact Valerie Siebert-Thomas at vsiebert-thomas@stroke.org. Watch for details on the 2008 Regional Meetings: Stroke the Full Continuum of Care and the 2008 Public Health Summit on our website: www.stroke.org/MEET

Online Stroke Nurse Education Modules Coming in 2008

National Stroke Association and its professional partners are working diligently to complete the development and testing of a series of accredited online stroke nurse education modules that will be available in mid-2008. The modules are designed to improve stroke patient care and outcomes by providing evidenced-based and best-practice nursing education to those that deliver bedside care to patients at all points of the care continuum. The interactive modules will cover topics ranging from "Stroke 101" to "Rehabilitation Nursing for Stroke" - everything stroke care teams will need to provide quality care and obtain or maintain primary stroke center certification. Questions or comments about the Stroke Nurse Education Modules project can be directed to Jill Thiare, SCN Director at (303)754-0908 or jthiare@stroke.org.

ABCD2

The ABCD2 score was developed and validated by Dr. Clay Johnston and Dr. Peter Rothwell to predict the short-term stroke risk after a transient ischemic attack (TIA). The score is optimized to predict the risk of stroke within 2 days after a TIA, but also predicts stroke risk within 90 days. Now Dr. Johnston and National Stroke Association have collaborated to produce an easy use tool based on the ABCD score. The tool enables clinicians to calculate the ABCD2 score by summing up points for five independent factors. National Stroke Association will be mailing a copy of the tool to 165,000 healthcare professionals. The tool will also be available for download from the National Stroke Association website at www.stroke.org.

Calendar of Upcoming Events