May 20, 1997
Brain attack flyer available at Western Washington drug stores
More than 500,000 Americans each year may suddenly experience numbness or muscular weakness, lose the ability to speak, and have difficulty seeing. These frightening symptoms are common to stroke, the number-one cause of adult disability in the United States and at least 150,000 deaths each year.
Stroke is a medical emergency that requires swift action at the first sign of an attack. Despite the fact that prompt treatment can greatly reduce its devastating effects, most Americans are still unfamiliar with the five warning signs of stroke, or brain attack.
These warning signs are detailed in a new flyer, Are You at Risk for Brain Attack? available from the Puget Sound Stroke Alliance, PEMCO Financial Services and PayLess Drug Stores. The simple flyer, which can fit in a purse or wallet, also lists the primary risk factors for brain attack.
The flyers are free to the public at the pharmaceuticals department at PayLess Drug stores in Western Washington. For larger quantities, call the University of Washington Stroke Prevention and Assessment Center at Harborview, (206) 521-1265.
