The American Heart Association hosted a “friendly” competition between the Tulane Medical Center administration team and a team of stroke providers on Oct. 26 at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. The stroke relay was a fun, five-station obstacle course which demonstrated the stroke warning signs.
The team of stroke providers won the relay and received the golden brain trophy. The relay was held to observe World Stroke Day, which was Oct. 29.
More than 129,000 deaths occur annually from stroke.
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts (ruptures). When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. This causes the portion of the body affected to not function as it should.
The warning signs of a stroke include:
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg
• Sudden confusion; trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache, with no known cause
Stroke is ranked the fifth highest cause of death in the United States. Stroke remains the leading cause of disability and the leading cause of preventable disability in the United States.