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What is a Stroke

Stroke is a “Brain Attack”, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain. In the U.S., Stroke is the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, killing 170,000 people each year, and the leading cause of adult disability. Approximately 780,000 strokes will occur this year; however 500,000 of those strokes can be prevented. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex or age.

Types of Stroke:

Ischemic stroke occurs when arteries are blocked by blood clots or by the gradual buildup of plaque and other fatty deposits. Almost 85 percent of all strokes are ischemic. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain breaks leaking blood into the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes account for about fifteen percent of all strokes, yet are responsible for more than thirty percent of all stroke deaths. Two million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Recognizing symptoms and acting fast to get medical attention can save a life and limit disabilities.

Recognizing Symptoms

Few Americans know the symptoms of stroke. Learning them could save your life or the life of a loved one.

Common stroke symptoms include:

• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause
• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body

F.A.S.T. Banner

This simple test will help you detect stroke symptoms and Act F.A.S.T.:
F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
A = ARM Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

1. Know your BLOOD PRESSURE. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep it under control. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke. Have your blood pressure checked at least once each year – more often if you have a history of high blood pressure. Your blood pressure should be 120/80 or under.
2. Find out if you have ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (A-FIB). If you have A-FIB, work with your doctor to manage it. Atrial fibrillation can cause blood to collect in the chambers of your heart. This blood can form clots and cause a stroke. Your doctor can detect A-FIB by carefully checking your pulse.
3. If you smoke, stop. SMOKING doubles the risk for stroke. If you stop smoking today, your risk for stroke will begin to decrease.
4. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Having one drink each day may lower your risk for stroke (provided that there is no other medical reason you should avoid alcohol). Remember that alcohol is a drug – it can interact with other drugs you are taking, and alcohol is harmful if taken in large doses. If you don’t drink, don’t start.
5. Know your CHOLESTEROL number. If it is high, work with your doctor to control it. Lowering your cholesterol may reduce your risk for stroke. High cholesterol can also indirectly increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk of heart disease – an important stroke risk factor. Often times, high cholesterol can be controlled with medication. Your total cholesterol should be less than 200.
6. Control your DIABETES. If you are diabetic, follow your doctor’s recommendations carefully. Having diabetes puts you at an increased risk for stroke. Your doctor can prescribe a nutritional program, lifestyle changes and medicine that can help control your diabetes. Your blood glucose level should always be between 60-100.
7. Include EXERCISE in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine. A brisk walk, swim or other exercise activity for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways, and may reduce your risk for stroke.
8. Enjoy a lower SODIUM(salt), lower fat diet. By cutting down on sodium and fat in your diet, you may be able to lower your blood pressure and, most importantly, lower your risk for stroke.
9. Ask your doctor if you have CIRCULATION problems. If so, work with your doctor to control them. Fatty deposits can block the arteries which carry blood from your heart to your brain. Sickle cell disease, severe anemia, or other diseases can cause stroke if left untreated.
10. If you have any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention immediately. Stroke is medical emergency and you need to dial 9-1-1.

Roxanna Margaret Todd was born in 1915 in Minnesota, she married Tom Hodges in 1940 and they were married for 34 years until his passing. In her healthy years Roxanna was a community leader, volunteering her time with Soropotomist Club International, Assistance League in Santa Monica, and PEO, Santa Monica.  She helped the YWCA in Santa Monica and was always giving time at her church. Roxanna suffered several strokes, her first in 1995, and the last one in 2005 leaving her confined to her bed. Her understanding of the critical need for Stroke “brain attack” awareness and treatment advances led her to establish the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation.  Her last words spoken were “Strike out Stroke wherever you can”.  This is what her Foundation is doing today with monthly seminars and screenings. 

OUR STAFF

Deborah Massaglia is the President and Trustee of the Foundation. She has been a personal friend of Roxanna since 1994. Over the years she has helped Roxanna develop the Foundation and now runs the day to day operations. She and Roxanna started working with the Stroke Association of Southern California in 1996. Deborah was instrumental in planning the first of many community Stroke Awareness Programs that consist of Stroke Warning Signs and Stroke Screenings. Over the years she has been amazed as to how much the public wants and needs more information on Stroke and Stroke Awareness. She will continue her efforts to teach the public on the sign and symptoms of Stroke.

Alyson Peterson has been employed through RTH Management Company, LLC, for over five years. Alyson is a licensed Real Estate Agent and a graduate of Long Beach City College Nursing School . She supervises commercial property in the Los Angeles area for RTH Management. Alyson has become very fond of Roxanna over the years, and has recently devoted some of her time to the RTH foundation as well. Alyson is dedicated to helping Roxanna and her foundation with helping others who have suffered from Stroke.

Joanne Massaglia has been employed with Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation for over seven years. She is the Foundation Office Manager and is the friendly voice with an extra warm heart that assists the attendees through the seminar process. Joanne initiates the publicity for the community for all foundation events. She supports the foundation and the lives that the foundation helps to save.

Janet French has been the manager of  the OC Stroke Association and Support Group for 3 years.  She assists with seminars and community education events.  Janet was a manger at First Federal Bank for over 17 years in Culver City, CA.  She wanted to move back to Orange County; to be where she grew up.  Janet loves getting to work at our Association office each day, and will assist you with Support Group information and invite you to visit our Stroke Education Resource Room.

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Long Beach Memorial July/August 2012 Newsletter

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Many clinical advances and community education initiatives are possible thanks to support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. With your help we can continue our effort to “Strike out Stroke”

Please donate today. All funds go towards community education programs and screenings.

For further information, please contact our office and a representative will answer your questions, or simply mail your tax deductable donation to our office.

Your gift is tax deductable…..Thank you for caring.

Checks should be made payable to The Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation and mailed directly to: 

The Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation

23332 Mill Creek Drive Suite 120

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

(888) 794-9466 or (949) 305-8450

Tax identification is available upon request.

We offer Stroke Education, Support Groups and a Stroke Referral Center.

If you or someone you know has had a stroke, or if you would like more information on preventing a stroke, please call our office to schedule a visit.  You can also visit us on our web-site at www.ocstroke.org or www.rthfoundation.org.  You don’t have to struggle thru this alone, let us help.  Call us today and get the help you need.

We are a nonprofit Foundation:

• That provides stroke survivors and their families a single source of care and family support
• Offers carefully trained therapists who will work with stroke patients to enable them to lead full and productive lives
• Allows patients and family members a source for educational information and emotional support, regardless of age, race or economic status.

We are committed to healing, training, education and support so that the causes of strokes, a leading and debilitating cause of disability and death, can be prevented, and so that the often devastating after-effects of a stroke can be mitigated.

The Stroke Support Group meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 1:30PM to 3:00PM in Suite 110 of the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation Office. For any questions or if you want to register, please contact Janet French at (888) 794-9466 or (949) 916-1597.

Importance of Stroke Support Groups Stroke survivors and their family members, friends and others need a Stroke Support Group. This support group is a community organization where they learn more about stroke, share their experiences about stroke, and become inspired to move forward after their stroke. Since a stroke can be very isolating, it is important for Stroke Survivors to meet regularly with other members who will help each of them face and overcome common challenges. They achieve this by sharing experiences and encouraging one another during the group meetings. The stroke support group is a place for stroke survivors and caregivers to make new friends, socialize, gain realistic feedback, help others and find meaning in life that may have been lacking in their lives since their stroke. Stroke Support Groups often are the key to uncovering the hidden strengths in many survivors with the warmth, acceptance and emotional support that is needed after a stroke. Family and friends provide important support, but stroke support groups can also play a vital role in stroke recovery. They can decrease the isolation that survivors and family experience, and introduce new friends to replace those often lost after the stroke. Social support is important in stroke recovery as social isolation has been called a risk factor for a poor outcome after stroke. A Stroke Support Group empowers members with information and provides emotional support that promotes good health and better quality of life. Since survivors not only face new disabilities with possible medical complications, it is so important that they receive information to prevent recurrent strokes. Stroke support groups offer a place to provide growth and flexibility where members can have their needs managed. Survivors can become more involved by discovering new ways to find a richer life after stroke by finding individualized goal setting, self-help and self-discovery by participating in a Stroke Support Group.

Stroke survivors are natural candidates for stroke support groups. Through mutual help and support they experience and discover individual possibilities with even more potentials. These groups provide feedback that validates the survivor’s own feelings and expectations and it is a healthy approach to ongoing rehabilitation. It gives each survivor a feeling of hope and adds to increased satisfaction in life.

CAREGIVER’S BILL OF RIGHTS

I have the right… to take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will give me the capability of taking better care of my relative. I have the right… to seek help from others even though my relatives may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength. I have the right… to maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do some things just for myself. I have the right… to get angry, be depressed, and express other difficult feelings occasionally. I have the right… to reject any attempts by my relative (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate me through guilt, and or depression. I have the right… to receive consideration, affection, forgiveness, and acceptance for what I do from my loved one for as long as I offer these qualities in return. I have the right… to take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it has sometimes taken to meet the needs of my relative. I have the right… to protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me in the time when my relative no longer needs my full-time help.

I have the right… to expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired persons in our country, similar strides will be made towards aiding and supporting caregivers.

Many clinical advances and community education initiatives are possible thanks to support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. With your help we can continue our effort to “Strike out Stroke”

Please donate today. All funds go towards community education programs and screenings.

For further information, please contact our office and a representative will answer your questions or simply mail your tax deductable donation to our office.

We thank you for your support

Checks should be made payable to RTH Foundation.

The Roxanna Todd Hodges mission statement

The mission of the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation (RTHF) is to provide educational and therapeutic resources and support to stroke patients and their families, as well as to provide financial support for educational programs, screenings and seminars that focus on stroke prevention and awareness. To fulfill our mission, we envision a comprehensive stroke center that:

• Provides stroke sufferers and their families a single source of care, including medical care and family support.
• Offers carefully trained therapists who will work with stroke patients to enable them to leads full and productive lives.
• Allows patients and family members a source for educational information and emotional support, regardless of age, race or economic status.

We are committed to healing, training, education and support so that the causes of strokes, a leading and debilitating cause of disability and death, can be prevented, and so that the often devastating after-effects of a stroke can be mitigated.

Stroke Seminars
Please note Seminars are held at the Petroleum Club now.

Seminar Name:	Stroke Prevention Seminar
Date:	01-21-2009
Time:	1:30 to 3:30pm
Location:	OC Stroke Assocation
City-State:	Laguna Hills-California
Detail:	Stroke Prevention…..Do you know the warning signs of a Stroke? Come and learn how YOU can prevent a Stroke. We welcome you to our Orange County seminar location. Please visit ocstroke.org for further details and directions.
Seminar Name:	Stroke and High Cholesterol
Date:	01-28-2009
Time:	1:30 to 3:30pm
Location:	Long Beach Petroleum Club
City-State:	Long Beach-California
Detail:	Are you at risk for a stroke with high cholesterol? Come and learn the warning signs of a Stroke…..and much more. We will have a limited number of Carotid Artery screenings and cholesterol/glucose screenings available. Please call today to make your reservation.
Seminar Name:	Women Heart Disease and Stroke
Date:	02-05-2009
Time:	8:00 AM
Location:	Long Beach Memorial Hospital
City-State:	Long Beach-California
Detail:	This is a full day of great information and speakers. We will have cholesterol and glucose checks as well as Carotid Artery Screenings. Register today…The cost is $20.00 includes lunch and materials.
Seminar Name:	Stroke and Diabetes
Date:	03-25-2009
Time:	1:30 to 3:30pm
Location:	The Petroleum Club/Terrace Room
City-State:	Long Beach-California
Detail:	Stroke and Diabetes….are you at risk for a Stroke with Diabetes. Diabetes testing available at this seminar. We will have a guest speaker; Linda Kerr RN,MSN,NP,CDE from Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. We will also have Carotid Artery screenings at this seminar. We have limited reservations, so please call today to make yours.
Seminar Name:	Stroke and Rehabilitation
Date:	04-29-2009
Time:	1:30 to 3:30pm
Location:	The Petroleum Club/Terrace Room
City-State:	Long Beach-California
Detail:	Important tips for Stroke Survivors and their families. We will also have a limited number of cholesterol/glucose screenings available. Please call today to make your reservation.

IF YOU BELIEVE SOMEONE IS HAVING A STROKE:

What Should A Bystander Do?
If you believe someone is having a stroke – if he or she suddenly loses the ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or experiences facial paralysis on one side – call 911 immediately.

Stroke is a medical emergency and you need to call 911. A Stroke can injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the heart.

Learn More About Stroke:

• Attend our Stroke Awareness Seminars
• Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in the U.S.
• 80% of Ischemic Strokes are preventable
• Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.
• Other risk factors include obesity, inactivity, excessive alcohol use and smoking.
• Knowledge is the most powerful weapon in the fight against stroke.
• Every 45 second someone in the U.S. will have a stroke. Take time to learn more now
• More Women will die from a Stroke than Breast Cancer

What Can I Do?

• Eat foods low in fat and cholesterol.
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Exercise regularly.
• Lower your blood pressure if it is high.
• Stop Smoking.
• Try to reduce stress in your life.
• Lower your blood sugar if it is high.
• Lower your Sodium intake in your diet.
• If you have diabetes, see your doctor regularly and follow all diet and medication instructions.

In 1998, the Roxanna Todd Hodges Foundation began on stroke prevention and recovery initiatives. Through monthly community stroke screenings, many men and women at high risk of stroke have received life-saving interventions. Stroke victims and their families have been equipped with resources and knowledge to cope with this devastating disease.

Time saves lives, Stroke is a medical emergency

More than 700,000 Americans will suffer a Stroke or “brain attack” – this year. Of this number 200,000 will be recurrent strokes. Stroke prevention is still the best medicine. Learn the risk factors and always “Know your Numbers”.

What is a Stroke?

A Stroke occurs when blood flow to the area of the brain is interrupted. An ischemic Stroke is caused by either a clot or a blocked artery. A Hemorrhagic Stroke is caused by a ruptured artery and blood leaks into the brain.

When blood flow is interrupted to an area in the brain, the brain cells of that area die.