Month: October 2017

The Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation is one of the leading forces in stroke education in Southern California. The RTH foundation conducts educational presentations, health screenings as well as publishing an informational newsletter. The focus of their education is empowerment of those at risk of stroke through up-to-date and relevant information. Having attended many of their educational symposia and participated in their stroke risk factor screening I can attest to the quality and importance of their activities. The RTH Foundation web site provides excellent access to vital resources and educational materials. As President of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association Board of Directors I would like to congratulate the Roxanna Todd Hodges for all of the great work they do on behalf of stroke education and prevention.

Nerses Sanossian, MD, FAHA
President, Board of Directors
American Heart Association of Greater Los Angeles
Director, Roxanna Todd Hodges Comprehensive Stroke Clinic
University of Southern California

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Despite its tremendous impact on our society, few people know what a stroke is, what the risk factors are, what the warnings signs are, and what to do if they have symptoms of a stroke. The overwhelming majority of the ~800,000 strokes that occur each year could be prevented through awareness and optimal management of blood pressure, and through lifestyle changes to healthier diets, greater physical activity, and smoking cessation. Through its dedication to community education, the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation is increasing stroke awareness and promoting risk factor control, factors which will ultimately have a tremendous impact on preventing strokes.

Amytis Towfighi, MD
Associate Chief Medical Officer
Chief, Stroke System of Care
Chair, Department of Neurology
Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology
USC Keck School of Medicine

The Florence Sylvester Memorial Senior Center promotes the ongoing stroke education and screenings that are sponsored by the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation. Education is power and the senior community needs to remain vigilant of stroke prevention, and the early interventions if a stroke occurs. The Foundation has taken a leading role in getting the word out to the people who are interested in reducing Brain Attacks.

Cheryl Wieland, RN-BC, BSN, CCM Age Well Senior Services

Case Management / Health & Wellness Coordinator

Long Beach Memorial Hospital has been working with the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation for approximately 8 years. We joined forces with the same mission of providing education to the community to prevent strokes.

Over the years we have educated thousands of people and provided support to stroke survivors and their caregivers. The resources, professionalism and passion from the RTH family, combined with Memorial’s Stroke Program have increased stroke education to health care professionals, and various community programs (churches, schools, colleges, and support groups). Just to name a few.

Together, I truly feel as if we have made an impact on the lives of MANY, MANY people preventing strokes and improving the quality of lives of those affected by stroke.

Angie West, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN
Program Director Neuroscience/Stroke
Long Beach Memorial

The Roxanna Todd Hodges (RTH) Foundation is a leader in “Stroke Awareness and Prevention” in Southern California. The Foundation is true to their mission to educate the public about stroke warning signs, stroke risk factors, stroke prevention and healthy lifestyle behaviors. We are thrilled to be partners with them in the effort of reaching out to the community with stroke awareness campaigns as well as providing comprehensive clinical care and conducting research to decrease the burden of stroke. Excellence is evident in all aspects of the RTH Foundation and I applaud the wonderful work that they do! We look forward to augmenting our ability to positively affect and reach out to an increasing number of people as each day goes by.

Leslie J. Tarlow, RN, MSN, GNP-BC
Stroke Program Coordinator
Instructor of Clinical Neurology
Keck School of Medicine of USC
University of Southern California

© 2017 Copyright – RTH Stroke Foundation

Downey Patriot, July 18, 2013

For the third time in as many events, a person’s life was spared because of a life-saving screening at the Primary Stroke Prevention Seminar Wednesday at Rio Hondo Event Center.

This remarkably successful series of events has provided free carotid artery, aortic abdominal aneurysm and blood pressure screenings for more than 750 people. These free screenings have been valued at more than $330,000. The seminars are sponsored by the RTH Stroke Foundation, Rancho Los Amigos Foundation, The Downey Patriot and the Rio Hondo Event Center.

“The purpose of these seminars is to reduce the risk of primary stroke in the Downey community,” said RTH Stroke Foundation President Deborah Massaglia. “With so many attendees whose screenings have revealed issues with carotid artery blockage, serious abdominal aneurysms or life-threatening high blood pressure, we have exceeded our wildest expectation in helping prevent stroke in this community.”

Wednesday’s seminar was no exception. “A woman said she had experienced dizzy spells before attending the seminar,” Deborah said. “When we did the ultrasound screening on her carotid arteries, it showed that one of her arteries had a greater than 80 percent blockage, which could result in a fatal stroke. She will be getting immediate medical care to deal with this life-threatening issue,” Deborah said.

Although other results weren’t as dramatic, there were many attendees with Type 2 hypertension (blood pressure higher than 160/100), which meant they also needed to see a doctor immediately.

As in the two previous seminars, the event began with a presentation about stroke by a leading expert in the field. Nerses Sanossian, MD, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the USC Keck School of Medicine and Director of the Roxanna Todd Hodges Comprehensive Stroke Clinic at USC, told the audience that the cost of stroke is extremely high in the United States, both in terms of loss of life and financial resources.

“More than 800,000 new stroke cases are reported each year in the United States,” Dr. Sanossian said. “Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in our country, with about 130,000 people dying because of stroke each year.”
He told the audience that stroke is the leading cause of disability in America, and that of all stroke survivors, 90% have permanent deficits.

“The total cost of stroke-related medical cost and disability in the United States is approximately $57 billion each year,” Dr. Sanossian said. “The tragedy is that 80 percent of these strokes could have been avoided if people had just changed their lifestyle to avoid the factors that put them at a high risk for stroke.

“Many risk factors for stroke can be treated and some can even be eliminated,” Dr. Sanossian said. These include:

* Hypertension (high blood pressure) * Heart disease * Cigarette smoking * Transient Ischemic Attack or mini-stroke (TIA) * Atrial Fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) * Stress * Diet and exercise * Sleep Apnea * Diabetes * Elevated blood cholesterol

* Excessive alcohol use

“These factors account for four out of every five strokes,” Dr. Sanossian said. “By recognizing the issues that you have in these areas and making the necessary lifestyle changes to correct them, you can help prevent a stroke in your life.”

Dr. Sanossian said that there are five risk factors for stroke that can’t be treated. “These include age, gender, race, a prior stroke and a family history of stroke,” he said. He then named six things that people can do to help reduce the risk of a stroke, including:

* Know your risk factors * Exercise five to six times per week for 30 minutes per day * Lower your sodium (salt) intake * Cut down on fatty foods

* Eat a well-balanced diet

* Report any symptoms immediately to your doctor
Knowing the symptoms of stroke and taking immediate action can often mean the difference between life and death, or even between having a permanent disability and sustaining substantially less long-term damage to your body.

“There’s a simple acronym called FAST, which makes it easy to remember what to do if someone is having a stroke,” Dr. Sanossian said.

The “F” stands for “face”. “Ask them to smile,” he said. “Does the face look uneven?”

The “A” stands for “arm.” “Ask them to raise both arms,” he said. “Does one drift down?”

The “S” stands for “speech”. “Ask them to repeat a simple phrase such as ‘the sky is blue’,” Dr. Sanossian said. “Does their speech sound strange?”

The “T” stands for “time”. “If they have any of these signs, it’s time to immediately call 9-1-1,” he said. “Do not call a doctor, do not call a friend or relative and do not drive to the nearest hospital. Call 9-1-1.”

Dr. Sanossian then explained why it is so important to call 9-1-1. “During a stroke, the brain loses up to 1.9 million neurons and 14 billion brain synapses, the connections between neurons through which information flows from one neuron to another,” he said.

“This is why we say that ‘time is brain’ during a stroke, and why it is so important to call 9-1-1 immediately when you think someone may be having a stroke. “When you call 9-1-1, the ambulance will bring you directly to the hospital and straight to a bed in the Emergency Room. In addition, we now have a clot-busting drug call tPA that must be given within three hours after the start of a stroke to be effective. So you want to get to the hospital the fastest way possible, and that is by calling 9-1-1.”

The biggest challenge our society faces in preventing strokes is getting our epidemic of high blood pressure under control,” Dr. Sanossian said. “We could eliminate nearly half the strokes in this country if we could control our high blood pressure,” he said.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, causes more than 400,000 strokes each year. This is followed by high cholesterol (170,000), cigarettes (100,000), atrial fibrillation (80,000) and heavy alcohol use (40,000).

“High blood pressure isn’t just the leading cause of stroke,” Dr. Sanossian said. “It is also a major cause of hart disease, kidney disease, heart attacks and vascular dementia.”

It is very important to keep your blood pressure in the normal range, which is under120/80,” he said. “If your blood pressure is higher than recommended, it can be controlled by a combination of diet, exercise and medication. Whatever it takes, make sure you get your blood pressure under control.”

Dr. Sanossian said weight control is something everyone can work on to reduce their blood pressure.

“There are some basic lifestyle changes you can make that can help you reduce your weight,” he said. These include:

* Decrease time in sedentary behaviors such as watching television, playing video games, or spending time online. * Increase physical activity such as walking, biking, aerobic dancing, tennis, soccer, basketball, etc. * Decrease portion sizes for meals and snacks.

* Reduce portion sizes or frequency of consumption of calorie-containing beverages.

“The good news is that you can do something to reduce your risk of stroke,” Dr. Sanossian said. “Whether you have a stroke or not is primarily up to you.”

The more than 200 persons who attended Wednesday’s seminar, took the first step to better health by becoming informed of their blood pressure and whether they had issues with their carotid arteries or an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

“We encourage everyone in the community to attend our next seminar, which will be held Wednesday, September 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Rio Hondo Event Center,” Deborah said. “Today’s seminar filled up in just one day, so I would suggest that anyone who would like to take advantage of hearing a great physician speak about how to prevent a stroke and our free screenings should call 888-794-9466 and make a reservation for our free September 25 event.

“This is the most successful Primary Stroke Prevention seminar series our nation has ever had,” Dr. Sanossian said. “I encourage everyone in the community to attend the next seminar on September 25 and start working on living a healthier life.”

http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/article.do?id=17719048

Controlling some risk factors may be a matter of you making up your mind to change some of your everyday routines while others may require a form of medical intervention. Stroke is a preventable brain attack, but you must make steps to minimize your risk of stroke.  It is very important that you know and understand your risk factors. If you have questions about these risk factors, please consult your primary care physician as soon as possible. The most common modifiable risk factors are:

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor of stroke. Elevated blood pressure promotes atherosclerosis (thickening of arterial walls) and puts added stress on blood vessel walls. Hypertension can go unnoticed because there may be no obvious symptoms. It is important to regularly check and control your blood pressure. A healthy reading is about 120/80. Readings consistently above 140/90 indicate your blood pressure is in the danger zone.

You can help keep your blood pressure in check by limiting your intake of sodium (which is found in abundance in many processed foods like cold cuts, canned soup and frozen dinners), drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all, exercising regularly, and keeping your weight at a healthy level.  In addition, your doctor can prescribe medications that can help lower your blood pressure.

Diabetes: Diabetes causes circulatory problems in your body. Because of these complications, if you have diabetes you have an increased risk of stroke. There are two kinds of diabetes, Type I (insulin dependent) and Type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Type 2 has been known as Adult Onset Diabetes, but the alarming rise in Type 2 among very young people, brought on largely by the obesity epidemic, is making that term obsolete. People with either type of diabetes generally have one or more other risk factors for stroke: heart disease, high cholesterol including high levels of LDL, and high blood pressure, all of which increase a person’s chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.

If you are overweight, a loss of as few as ten pounds can bring about a significant drop in blood glucose levels. Exercise can likewise help. A diet that qualifies as heart healthy is an excellent diet for a diabetic. While Type 1 diabetics are generally prescribed insulin, Type 2 diabetics may be prescribed oral medication or, if these are not successful, insulin.

High Cholesterol: Too much cholesterol or plaque build-up can cause abnormal blood flow and can clog arteries, which can lead to a stroke. High cholesterol can also increase the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis, which are both risk factors of stroke.

In addition to having an overall cholesterol reading of less than 200, you should have an HDL (good cholesterol) reading above 40, and an LDL (bad cholesterol) reading of less than 100. The best defense is a diet high in grains, fruits and vegetables and foods low in saturated fat. Your doctor can prescribe medications that can help lower your cholesterol.

Our stroke support group broke new ground this year with dozens of new attendees and two exciting holiday parties. Our Halloween office party saw dozens of stroke survivors and their caregivers dressed in costumes and enjoying themselves over the potluck menu. This Tuesday, we held another stroke support group party for Christmas etc. Many of the group members enjoyed themselves over conversation, sandwiches from Steffanos, and holiday Christmas caroling courtesy of Laguna Hills High School and their talented students. Our stroke support group hosted by Tiffanie and Donna went above and beyond this year to ensure that those who may have started off the year with many challenges in the aftermath of their strokes, ended the year with clarity and enjoyment in their lives. The RTH Stroke Foundation is fiercely committed to preventing strokes just as much as it is dedicated to mitigating their after effects. The stroke support group was fundamental this year in accomplishing that goal.

The Downey Patriot, May 23, 2013

The more than 200 people who attended the May stroke seminar in Downey got a real medical two-fer.  First they heard a compelling presentation on the causes of strokes and strategies to prevent them from Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center’s Amytis Towfighi, MD. Dr. Towfighi is Chair of Rancho’s Neurology Department and Director of its Acute Neurology/Acute Stroke Unit. In addition, she is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

They also received free screenings for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) and blood pressure provided by the RTH Stroke Foundation, and cholesterol and blood glucose screenings administered by staff from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ Hubert H. Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center in Los Angeles. The total value of these screenings was estimated at approximately $100,000. The AAA screening may have saved the life of one elderly lady who it turned out had the largest aneurysm the foundation had detected in 15 years of screening and was immediately referred for treatment.

Click here to read the entire article.

The RTH Stroke Foundation will be hosting two upcoming Seminars that will examine the relationship between migraine and stroke. The First Seminar will be held on June 1st of 2015 and the second will be held on June 30th of 2015, each at separate locations. For more information and to find out how you can attend, see our events calender or contact Janet French at (888)-794-9466. Both of these Seminars will disclose the relationship between migraine and stroke highlighted in Sanossian’s, MD, article below.

Migraine and Stroke: Is There a Connection?

~Nerses Sanossian, MD, FAHA

Migraine and stroke are very common and debilitating neurological conditions (disorders of the body’s nervous system). Because they are so common, they can often co-exist in the same person. The relationship is much more complicated than that. Many people believe that having migraine, especially the type associated with an aura, is an independent risk factor for having a stroke. It should also be noted that migraine could occur after any form of neurological injury such as head trauma or stroke. This article aims to describe the relationship between migraine and stroke and answer some basic questions about the relationship.

What is a migraine?

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent moderate to severe headaches often in association with a number of neurological symptoms. Typically the headache is one-sided, feels like a pulsation, and lasts hours to days. Associated symptoms may include nausea,   vomiting, increased sensitivity to lights and sounds, and the pain is worsened by activity. Up to one-third of people with migraine have auras: short-lived disturbance in visual, sensory, language, or  motor functioning.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is the rapid loss of brain function due to disruption of the blood supply. This can be due to ischemia (decreased blood supply) caused by blockage (clot), or a hemorrhage (bleeding from broken blood vessel). This loss of function can result in sudden weakness or numbness, sudden  confusion or trouble with speech, sudden trouble with vision, sudden trouble walking or dizziness, or a sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Can migraine headaches lead to stroke?

Most epidemiological studies indicate that an individual who has migraine headaches has an increased risk of having a stroke. This risk of stroke with migraine is very small when compared to the more established risk factors of high blood pressure, smoking, obesity and poor diet.  It is not very well understood why having migraines is associated with this small increase in stroke risk, and there are many theories, which have yet to be proven. The most important thing to know is that people with migraine headaches should see a physician who can correctly diagnose the condition and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

If I have migraine headaches is there anything I can do to lower my stroke risk?

The answer to this question is yes. Although migraine is a small risk factor for stroke, being a smoker and having other stroke risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure increase the risk further. Understanding your risk factors, controlling your risk factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent stroke. It is important to exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, and have regular medical care with a primary care doctor. There was an interesting study recently presented which indicated that receiving treatment for migraine headaches can reduce the risk of stroke further. This research is still not proven, but it certainly makes sense to prevent migraine headaches through treatment.

How can I reduce the number of migraine headaches?

The cornerstone of migraine therapy is prevention through avoidance of triggers such as certain foods and regular exercise. The same activities that reduce stroke risk can also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headache. A healthy balanced diet free of common triggers such as wine, cheese, and chocolate is one place to start. Regular exercise and biofeedback, which is the process of gaining greater awareness of headache patterns and using medication and other techniques to abort episodes, is also important. Some people will require medications. It is very important to discuss migraine headache with your primary care doctor. Most people who suffer from migraine will not       require evaluation by a neurologist or any further testing.

How do I know if the symptoms I am having are a migraine aura or a stroke?

If you experience any sudden neurological symptoms, you must call 9-1-1. In migraine aura the   symptoms typically occur in the same way repeatedly and develop into a pattern. Often migraine symptoms are “positive phenomena” or false visual images, where there is a flashing light or distortion of vision rather than a “negative phenomena” such as loss of vision, which occurs in stroke.

When you are experiencing new neurological symptoms, you must call 9-1-1 and get to the Emergency Room as soon as possible. A physician should make a diagnosis of migraine aura. Once this diagnosis is established, then you can make a determination of whether your current symptoms are due to an aura or are something very different.

Can a severe migraine attack lead to a stroke?

Yes, but this is a very rare occurrence and I have not seen it yet in my practice. It is called migrainous infarction and it occurs in people who have a very severe form of aura that does not go away. If you have a very severe aura that does not get better, it is important to be evaluated urgently.

Can a stroke lead to migraine headaches?

Any form of brain injury can lead to migrainous (migraine-like) headache.

Nerses Sanossian, MD, FAHA

Roxanna Todd Hodges Comprehensive Stroke Clinic,  University of Southern California

Superstar neurologist Dr. Helena Chui to speak at stroke prevention seminar

WRITTEN BY : Greg Waskul, Contributor

DOWNEY – One of the world’s leading neurologists will be the keynote speaker at the year’s final free Stroke Prevention Seminar at Rio Hondo Event Center on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 9:30 a.m..

Dr. Helena Chui, Chair of the USC Department of Neurology and a world-renowned physician and researcher, will be providing her insights about “Stroke and Dementia” at the event. Dr. Chui is very familiar with the Downey community, having worked with the Alzheimer Disease Research Center at USC and its Alzheimer Disease Centers at USC and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center for more than three decades.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Chui as our final presenter of 2014 in what has become the nation’s most successful series of stroke prevention seminars,” said RTH Stroke Foundation President Deborah Massaglia. “We encourage those who are interested in hearing and meeting Dr. Chui to register right away, because all of our seminars in Downey have filled up, often within a day.

“We know anyone who attends will learn a lot and will enjoy hearing from Dr. Chui, because her ratings from her previous talks are among the highest we’ve seen in 15 years of holding stroke prevention seminars.”

Everyone attending the event will also receive a free blood-pressure screening. So far, nearly 300 individuals with life-threateningly high blood pressure have found out about their condition for the first time at these local seminars sponsored by RTH Stroke Foundation, Keck Medicine of USC, Rio Hondo Event Center, PIH Health and The Downey Patriot.

Registering for the free stroke prevention seminar is easy. Either visit www.rthfoundation.org online or call (888) 794-9466 to sign up.

Not surprisingly Dr. Chui has earned exceptionally high marks from those who have heard her speak in the local area. “I learned so much from Dr. Chui about memory loss, and discovered many ideas about how to live a healthier life that I applied in my own life,” said Downey community leader Beverly Mathis. “She is very interesting and informative, and the way she speaks with people is so encouraging.

“I remember that the last time she spoke at a stroke prevention seminar she stayed long after her presentation was finished to answer more questions from the audience,” Beverly said. “There must have been 60 or 70 people in line to speak with Dr. Chui, and she smiled and listened to each one and spoke to them with words they could understand and act upon. I can’t wait to see what she’s going to tell us on October 29th, because she is truly an inspiration to us all.”

Dr. Chui’s appearance is part of a larger effort by USC’s Alzheimer Disease Research Center (ADRC) to reach out to underserved communities throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

In her presentation, Dr. Chui will report the latest findings of the research she and her ADRC colleagues have conducted at USC and Rancho as they seek effective new approaches to the detection, cause, prevention, and treatment of early-stage cognitive impairment. She will also discuss research developments from around the world.

“The whole world awaits the day when a truly effective medical treatment becomes available for Alzheimer Disease,” Dr. Chui said. “Meanwhile, the best treatment is still a day-by-day holistic approach to optimize quality of life. A huge difference can be made in the quality of life we experience, depending upon our outlook and supportive and caring relationships with others.

“This depends upon maintaining the spiritual, physical, and mental well-being of the care partner, as well as the person with the disease,” Dr. Chui said. “We understand that memory loss is a family issue that requires effective long-term planning and action to address all the needs of the family unit.”

“Dr. Chui will be speaking about the devastating impact stroke and memory loss has on the health of America’s families,” Deborah said. “In addition to learning about dementia, event participants will be provided with vital information that may help them prevent a stroke and save their life or the life of a loved one.”

Under Dr. Chui’s leadership, USC’s ADRC is organized around six core areas: administration; clinical; data and informatics; neuropathology; outreach, recruitment and education; and imaging. In addition to Dr. Chui, who heads the administration core, several other core leaders, such as Dr. Lon Schneider (clinical) and Dr. Arthur Toga (imaging) are themselves world-renowned experts in their specialties. In addition to its groundbreaking research, Keck Medicine of USC provides the most advanced diagnostic and treatment services available for Alzheimer Disease, other types of dementia and diseases related to aging.

Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center (an affiliate of USC) makes available to the community outstanding resources for the community both in memory loss and stroke. “Our California Alzheimer Disease Center team at Rancho is led by Dr. Freddi Sigal-Gidan, who has more than a quarter century of experience in research and treatment of Alzheimer Disease and other memory loss issues; and Dr. Liliana Gomez Ramirez, who has become one of the top young doctors in the field,” Dr. Chui said.

“Rancho also has a number of experts in stroke and other acute neurological conditions, led by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mindy Aisen. The stroke service is led byDr. Amytis Towfighi, who is one of the most talented and accomplished stroke physicians and researchers in the world,” she said. “We also have the brilliant neuorosurgeon Dr. Charles Liu and a rising star in Dr. Susan Shaw, among many distinguished clinicians.

“Keck Medicine of USC is very proud of our long-term partnership with Rancho and the talents of the many USC physicians and clinicians who are associated with this superb rehabilitation facility,” Dr. Chui added. It’s an excellent example of how we bring our treatment and research protocols to underserved populations.”

She also suggested that those who are interested in finding out more about memory loss should visit the USC ADRC’s new web site at adrc.usc.edu.

“We have spent nearly a year working to make our new site more relevant to our patients, participants and families, researchers and healthcare professionals, and the community we serve,” Dr. Chui said. “The web site makes it easy to join the ADRC family and learn more about memory loss or sign up for a clinical trial or study.

“We are learning much about stroke, memory loss and other brain-related issues each day as research continues to provide the answers to many questions and challenges we have faced in the world of medicine,” Dr. Chui said. “At Keck Medicine of USC, we are at the forefront of this work, and we intend to continue our efforts to meaningfully participate in the worldwide search to find better treatments and eventually cures so that one day we will have defeat each and every neurological disease.”

With her tremendous leadership and her many clinical and research achievements, Dr. Chui has an interesting perspective about neurological issues such as stroke and dementia.

“We encourage everyone reading this article to sign up for Dr. Chui’s seminar on October 29th because she is a great doctor, a great researcher and a great communicator,” Deborah said. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to interact and learn from a giant of the healthcare world, who possesses the rare combination of the intellect, experience and achievements that make her a world leader in her field, matched by a humility and caring heart that makes her beloved by her patients and colleagues.”

“This is an opportunity for each of us to be touched by greatness,” Beverly said. “If you can only do one thing for yourself this fall, attend Dr. Chui’s seminar. Like me, you may learn something that could change your life or the life of someone you love.”

http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/article/superstar-neurologist-dr-helena-chui-to-speak-at-stroke-prevention-seminar/

Our second seminar of the year which was conducted in partnership with the Downey Patriot, PIH, Rio Hondo Event Center, and USC, saw a record number of attendees. Around 200 people hungry for stroke information and screenings packed the venue and sat for the presentation given by Dr. Tara Dutta. Don’t miss out on our next big event. All of our seminars and screenings are offered at no charge to attendees. See the events calendar below for a list of upcoming seminars and sign up for one today.

https://www.rthfoundation.org/events-calendar/

Downey Patriot, October 24, 2013

Last no-cost stroke prevention seminar of the year takes place Nov. 6.

WRITTEN BY :   Greg Waskul, Contributor

DOWNEY – Due to overwhelming demand, 100 reservation slots have been added so that more members of the local community can attend the final Stroke Prevention Seminar of the year on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Rio Hondo Event Center.

This free seminar series, which has been described by several leading physicians as the most successful primary stroke prevention initiative ever undertaken in our country, will complete the year with a presentation on Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular dementia by one of the world’s most renowned doctors and researchers, Dr. Helena Chang Chui. All attendees will also receive a free blood pressure screening at the event.

“We already have nearly 200 RSVP’s for this free seminar,” said Deborah Massaglia, President of the RTH Stroke Foundation, which sponsors the seminar series in partnership with the Rancho Los Amigos Foundation, Rio Hondo Event Center and The Downey Patriot. “We think Dr. Chui’s message is so important that we have opened these new reservation slots, but based on previous experience they won’t last long,” she said.

“We recommend that those who are interested in attending make reservations immediately online at rthfoundation.org or by phone at (888) 794-9466.”

Dr. Chui holds the Raymond and Betty McCarron endowed Chair at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and serves as chair of the Department of Neurology. She is internationally recognized for her research in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment.

The Downey Patriot interviewed Dr. Chui this week while she was in Shanghai, China, completing a journey that took her to three provinces in the world’s most populous nation.

“I am very excited to speak to the Downey community about these important issues that affect our brain,” Dr. Chui said. “I will be explaining how we can maximize our vascular health to give us the best chance to avoid disabling neurological conditions such as strokes, Alzheimer’s Disease and vascular dementia,” Dr. Chui said.

“There is a lot of confusion throughout the community about these conditions, and everyone who attends will gain an understanding of what they can do to help improve their overall health,” she said.

“We are so excited that Dr. Chui will be speaking at our November 6 seminar, because she makes these complex concepts so understandable,” Deborah said.

“Our best offense against neurological diseases is a good defense, which is working with researchers to help find better treatments for people who have symptoms and also preventions to reduce the frequency of people who have symptoms, Dr. Chui said. She and her team at USC are world leaders in helping provide solutions to these challenging issues.
“If we could just delay the onset of symptoms by five years, we could cut the prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease by half,” she said.”At USC we have a focus on trying to develop solutions that are designed to have the best preventive effects without increasing the risks of other diseases.

“The impacts of vascular disease can be more subtle, and symptoms of cognitive impairment often occur in smaller steps, may stabilize, then might progress a little further,” she said. “We are interested in maintaining the health of the blood vessel system, and therefore the health of the brain as well.”

One example of how to improve vascular health is regular physical exercise. “Email has become a real addiction for many people,” Dr. Chui said. “Once you’ve opened it, you’re just sitting there, sometimes for hours. That’s why I always exercise before getting on email.”

Dr. Chui will speak about this and will provide some fun memory tips for attendees, as well as discussing other ways people can protect their vascular system.

“The vascular system is so vast that the total length of the capillaries in your brain is about 400 miles, which would stretch from here in Los Angeles to San Francisco,” she said. “Protecting our vascular health is the most important thing we can do to reduce the risk of stroke and other neurological conditions.”

Dr. Chui works with these issues every day. She is the principal investigator for the Alzheimer Disease Research Center as well as a multi-institutional program project on vascular dementia. She is also the author of more than 120 publications and has served on the editorial board for “Stroke, Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders” and “Archives of Neurology.”

“I always enjoy listening to Dr. Chui talk, because she explains things in a way I can understand and put the information to use in my own life,” said Downey community leader Sam Mathis.

“Having Dr. Chui speak is a great way to end our historic first year of Primary Stroke Prevention Seminars in Downey,” Deborah said. “She is a tremendous speaker, a legendary researcher, a visionary leader, and an even greater person.

“I know that anyone who hears Dr. Chui speak on November 6 will learn things that can help them improve their health and the overall quality of their life,” she added. “We recommend that our friends in their community make their reservations now so that they can attend this very special free seminar.”

Photo By: Greg Waskul

 http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/article.do?id=17720339

Each year, we spend a large amount of money and resources in combating stroke and raising awareness, however, one of the simplest methods to combat against stroke is free and anybody can contribute. When you like one of our pages via Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networks, you are directly contributing to the fight against stroke by raising awareness of the medical condition and our organization’s cause to drastically mitigate its presence in our society. In our current day and age, fighting stroke by spreading awareness has never been easier, all it takes is a click of the mouse or tap of the tablet. We’ve now made raising awareness of stroke even easier by installing social media buttons on our website, so if you visit one of our pages and find any information beneficial, like that page and tell others about your experience through social networks, by doing so, you could save a life. We will be adding more network buttons as time goes on. After liking one of our pages, feel free to visit the RTH Stroke Foundation’s main Facebook page and like us, we need all the support we can get in the fight against stroke.