Erlanger Health System presents “Save the Brain” at the Tri-County Community College in Murphy, NC on Oct. 2, providing educational and lifesaving information on the fifth leading cause of death and the leading preventable cause of disability, stroke.
During the free event attendees will hear from Erlanger Neurologist Dr. Thomas Devlin, director of the National Stroke Prevention Training Center, about recognizing stroke signs and symptoms, facts on how to reduce stroke risks factors and how to act “F.A.S.T.” in the event of a stroke.
Dr. Devlin will also share groundbreaking stroke technologies that were researched and are used to care for stroke patients at Erlanger.
“It is well documented that time is brain during a stroke,” said Dr. Devlin. “With help from the community, we can identify and treat strokes faster. At Erlanger, we are working with the best people in the field to develop technologies that will detect strokes, identify the type of stroke and aide in transporting the patient to a stroke center quicker, likely saving and improving the quality of life.”
A stroke happens when a blood vessel carrying blood and oxygen to the brain is blocked or ruptures, so brain cells don’t receive the blood flow they need. Without oxygen, nerve cells can’t function and die within minutes. When nerve cells don’t function, the part of the body they control can’t function either. Two million neurons die every minute during a stroke.
"The Erlanger Southeast Regional Stroke Center is one of the largest and most accomplished stroke centers in the nation. As this region’s first and only Comprehensive Stroke Center certified by the Joint Commission, the Erlanger Regional Stroke Center is able to significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients by offering more treatment options and by adhering to high national standards and guidelines," officials said.
The Save the Brain event will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 2 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Tri-County Community College in the Enice Building’s multipurpose room. For more information or to RSVP, call 828-837-7367.