Providence Brain Institute and American Heart Association Team Up with Local Hair Salon to Raise Stroke Awareness

April. 29, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. — The word is spreading one red streak at a time through Portland. In a month-long event called Streaks for Stroke, Robert’s of Portland salon, Providence Stroke Center and the American Heart Association have teamed up to educate the public about stroke risk and recognizing the signs of stroke. And they’re using red hair streaks to help people brush up on their knowledge about strokes.

Streaks for Stroke will kick off Saturday, May 3, at Lloyd Center Mall. Robert’s of Portland stylists will be on hand offering free red hair extensions for women (and men, too!) This event is between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the first floor near the entrance to Nordstrom. Providence nurses will offer blood pressure screenings and other stroke risk assessments.

For the rest of May, Robert’s of Portland will offer clients free red streaks at its salon at 5131 S.W. Macadam Ave. in Portland. Stylists will educate clients about stroke risk and warning signs. Salons around the country have taken part in a similar program, which has proven to be an effective way to increase stroke awareness.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America. On average, every 45 seconds someone suffers a stroke. Every three minutes, someone dies of stroke. Stroke kills more women than men. Twice as many women die from stroke than breast cancer each year.

Knowing the signs of stroke is especially important in Oregon, where the stroke death rate is the fifth highest in the country. Would you know if a loved one were having a stroke? "Recognizing the symptoms of stroke can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability," said Ted Lowenkopf, M.D., medical director of Providence Stroke Center. "Unfortunately, 97 percent of Americans do not know the signs of stroke."

Treatment must be given within the first three hours from the beginning of stroke symptoms; the earlier the better. "Time is brain. Millions of brain cells die each minute. That’s why it’s important to call 9-1-1 at the first sign of a stroke," said Lowenkopf.

The FAST test is used to educate people about the importance of recognizing the signs of a stroke.

F – FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the mouth or face droop?
A – ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? Can one arm not be raised?
S – SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a sentence. Can he or she repeat it correctly without slurring the words?
T – TIME: If the person exhibits any problems with these, it’s time to call for
emergency help.

For more information on this event, or stroke, visit the Providence Brain Institute Web site: http://www.providence.org/brain.