subject: Health Insurance In Tennessee Needed To Fight High Rate Of Stroke [print this page] A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot, or the vessel bursts. This deprives parts of the brain of oxygen, and can permanently damage the brain.
In the United States, stroke takes about 137,000 lives a year, and is also a leading cause of long-term disability. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Tennessee, after cancer and heart disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Stroke survival rates in Tennessee are terrible compared to the rest of the nation, and Tennessee ranks 48th in the country in terms of stroke mortality.
MTSU Baseball Team Promotes "Strike Out Stroke"
To bring this home to Tennessee residents, Middle Tennessee Medical Center and the MTSU baseball team are promoting "Strike Out Stroke" on April 24th. "What better way to educate our community on stroke, than while watching the Blue Raiders strike out the Trojans?" says Sylvia McLaughlin, the MTMC Stroke Program coordinator. McLaughlin is hoping for that victory during the Blue Raider's April 24th home game against University of Arkansas Little Rock.
MTMC is offering free tickets to local stroke survivors, and will also recognize survivors during the game. If you've survived a stroke, you can request your free tickets by calling 396-4959. The game begins at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 24 at the Reese Smith Jr. Field at MTSU.
What You Need to Know about Stroke
High blood pressure is one of the most common reasons why people have strokes. Yet, many people don't realize they have high blood pressure because they don't experience any symptoms until they have a stroke or heart trouble.
Here are five common signs of a stroke:
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body - Difficulty speaking or understanding speech - Blurry or double vision - Sudden severe headache - Dizziness and difficulty with balance.
Before you face these signs, check your blood pressure. If it's even occasionally high, consult a doctor. Occasional high blood pressure has been found to be an even more powerful indicator of stroke risk than average high blood pressure.
If you're at risk, be sure your Tennessee Health Insurance offers you the best protection against stroke. Check which hospitals are in network for your coverage, and how they stack up to nationally-accepted standards for stroke treatment.
Middle Tennessee Medical Center Excels in Treating Stroke
Since 2007, Middle Tennessee Medical Center (MTMC) has been a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center. MTMC has been commended for implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally-accepted standards.
The MTMC Stroke Program has received the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association's Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Gold Achievement Award. The MTMC Stroke Program was also recognized in the July 2009 US News & World Report after receiving the award.
Tennessee Hospitals Track Stroke Treatment
A Tennessee stroke database, the stroke registry, is helping to improve treatment for stroke, which is one of the state's leading killers. This will include stroke treatment, and patient outcomes from as many Tennessee hospitals as possible in an effort to improve weaknesses in stroke care.
This data could help identify how and where to concentrate preventive efforts. East Tennessee State University's college of public health will maintain the voluntary stroke registry, which will include data on stroke care given in hospitals, such as clot-dissolving medications.
When you're shopping for Tennessee Health Insurance, check to see which hospitals are in network for your coverage. Also, research which hospitals have the best track record on saving lives threatened by stroke, and reducing long-term disabilities caused by stroke. With the high rate of stroke occurring in Tennessee, health insurance is more important than ever.
by: Wiley Long
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
