“May is National Stroke Awareness Month,” says Nick Hardin, CEO of HealthSouth Sugar Land. “Stroke is a leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 130,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 of every 19 deaths. Our stroke rehabilitation center at HealthSouth has earned the Disease-Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission, a Gold Seal of Approval® and I know our team offers a level of camaraderie and caring that’s unparalleled. We’re spreading the word this month about stroke prevention…because your health matters to us!”

Lower your risk of stroke by taking charge of your health. The primary risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, poor diet and inactivity, excess weight and obesity. Be aware of the most common symptoms of stroke––sudden numbness or weakness of your face, arm, or leg; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden dizziness, trouble walking, or loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause. Immediately call 911.

How can you recognize the signs of stroke in someone else? Try the FAST test. F=FACE-Does the face droop when the person smiles? A = ARMS When both arms are raised, does one arm drift downward? S = SPEECH When the person repeats a sentence, does the speech sound slurred or strange? T = TIME If you observe any of these signs act fast and call 911!

At HealthSouth stroke patients can get the rehabilitation therapy they need––Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapies––from enthusiastic and caring people with advanced neurological rehabilitation equipment like the AutoAmbulator, a sophisticated treadmill with robotics to help a patient’s legs safely relearn natural walking patterns. The SaeboFlex® is a custom-fitted hand and arm splint to increase shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand function. VitalStim retrains the muscles needed to complete the swallowing process. And therapy has found a new use for the Wii…allowing patients to perform physical therapy exercises using the wireless controller.

“Together we hope to help you recover from stroke…and prevent as many strokes as we can,” says Nick. “We’re offering a free community forum to answer your questions about stroke this month. Contact us for more information or to RSVP.”

HealthSouth Sugar Land Rehabilitation Hospital
281-276-7574
1325 Highway 6
Sugar Land, TX 77478
www.healthsouthsugarland.com