Hospital to host free stroke awareness luncheon | Events

MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY (KFVS) - Western Baptist Hospital will host a free stroke awareness lunch seminar on Tuesday, May 8 in the Baptist Heart Center Auditorium.

Neurologist Joseph Ashburn, M.D., will speak on stroke prevention and care. In addition, stroke survivor Lorane Smith, 35, will speak about her recovery. The hospital says space is limited, so reservations are required by calling 270-575-2851.

According to Western Baptist, they have they only certified stroke program in Kentucky west of Owenboro. They are certified by The Joint Commission as a primary stroke center and recently received the Bronze Quality Achievement Award for stroke treatment from the American Heart and American Stroke associations. Of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission, just 600 have earned the added distinction for stroke care.

Western Baptist says stroke is the nation's third leading killer and the leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone will suffer a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3.1 minutes. According to the American Heart Association, in the Commonwealth it is a major problem with only 11 other states with a higher death rate from stroke than Kentucky.

For more information about the symptoms of stroke, you can call a Western Baptist nurse on the hospital's 24-hour Chest Pain and Stroke hotline at 1-800-575-1911.

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