Twice As Many Women Die of Stroke Than Breast Cancer Each Year: Presence Neuroscience Institute Stroke Experts Get Patients to the Right Level of Care via Telehealth

Stroke is the third leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing twice as many women as breast cancer every year yet in a recent survey women believed breast cancer was five times more prevalent than stroke, according to the National Stroke Association. Most women also don’t realize they are more likely than men to have a stroke.

Anamaria Chavez, 56, who has always been in general good health, didn’t know she was at risk for stroke, or that she was experiencing stroke symptoms when her gums and teeth went numb and she couldn’t talk. “My husband and son were sitting next to me and I had to text them to let them know something was wrong,” recalls Chavez, who sat on the couch because she was overwhelmed by a sudden general weakness. “I felt so sleepy, but it was too early for bed so I sat on the couch to rest and that’s when it started.”

Chavez was immediately taken to Presence Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center where she was diagnosed with stroke via Telestroke webcam technology by a Presence neurologist at another hospital. Chavez received tPA, a clot-busting medication, and her symptoms subsided, but only temporarily. She had to be transferred to Presence Neuroscience Institute located at Presence Resurrection Medical Center for a thrombectomy, a surgery to remove the blood clot that was causing the stroke. Following her discharge from the hospital five days later on September 19, Chavez started intensive half-day physical rehabilitation twice a week through the Presence Day Rehab program to help her achieve the highest level of ability.

“One of the biggest advantages of working within a comprehensive health care system like Presence Health, is having the distinct advantage of getting our patients to the right level of care immediately. We are able to serve our patients quickly and effectively from diagnosis and treatment to rehabilitation and the safe return home,” said Aamir Badruddin, M.D., director of stroke and neuroendovascular surgery at Presence Neuroscience Institute. “The time saved with our advanced technology offers immediate diagnosis and treatment of stroke across our system, and our rapid transfer protocol to one of the [Presence Neuroscience] Institute’s can mean the difference between life and death, full recovery and disability.”

For Chavez, she is well on her way to a strong recovery. She has completely recovered her memory through various therapeutic activities, now she is working on regaining full mobility of her right side with arm and leg exercises.

But stroke in women is an issue that yields greater attention. Women should know they are at a greater risk for stroke than men and what symptoms to watch for since women report symptoms uniquely their own. Some of those symptoms include sudden face and limb pain, sudden hiccups or nausea, or sudden general weakness like Chavez experienced. In recognition of World Stroke Day October 29, 2014, Presence Health reached out to various women on the street to help them understand their risks. Click here to watch the video.

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About Presence Health

Presence Health is the largest Catholic health system based in Illinois, created in November, 2011 through the merger of Provena Health and Resurrection Health Care. With more than 150

sites of care, including 12 hospitals, Presence Health has 22,000 employees and 4,000 medical professionals. More information is available at http://presencehealth.org

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