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As Heard on Morning Line: May is American Stroke Month & Bike to Work Day

Koahnic Broadcast Corporation

May is American Stroke Month & tomorrow, here in Anchorage, is Bike to Work Day.  

In celebration of those two American Heart Association Senior Development Director Kristin Luby, Volunteer Chastity Olemaun, and Providence Stroke Program Coordinator Diane Lada came by Morning Line to chat about it.

Olemaun works as a Technical Writer for ASRC Energy Services (AES) - and has lived in the Anchorage area for more than a decade - and started volunteers for the American Heart Association in part because her father suffered a stroke, and has sought to bring awareness to health to her company by promoting healthier living, and a walking program at her company. 

Diane mentions that one of the main messages the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association wants to get out is recognizing warning signs and symptoms, and get life-saving treatment rapidly, which has an acronym of FAST: 

·         F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.

·         A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

·         S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? 

·         T - Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Lada mentions that as spring turns to summer, and people become more active, Bike to Work Day reminds us that sedentary lifestyles is second to smoking as a health hazard.  

Luby ads that tomorrow, a refreshment station in coordination between the American Heart Association 

Credit American Heart Association Anchorage, Alaska Facebook page

and Providence Hospital, stocked with not only a goodies to help power cyclists through their commute, but also with information about Stroke and Heart health awareness, and as a special incentive, a chance to win tickets to a Bush concert, scheduled July 15th.

The British rock-grunge band is stopping by Anchorage this year as part of it's North American tour.

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