Saving stroke patients in Arkansas

Being born and raised in Arkansas, I have to mention an article about a federal grant for the state Department of Health to improve stroke prevention and outcomes.

The KARK-TV story about saving stroke patients in Arkansas also had some sobering information:

Arkansas has ranked first among the states in the stroke death rate for five of the last 10 years, and is now ranked second in the United States, based on data from 2009, the most recent available. Each year, it is estimated that more than 795,000 Americans suffer from a stroke, about 25 percent of those who are 40 years of age or older die at the time of the stroke or soon after. Among the survivors, some 15 - 30 percent remain permanently disabled.

By 2023, it is estimated that the total indirect and direct costs associated with strokes in Arkansas will be $1.19 billion if improvements are not made in the management of the diseases that cause strokes.

Strokes can disable, kill and cost billions. Preventing a stroke: Priceless.