[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E922]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    NATIONAL STROKE AWARENESS MONTH

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                           HON. RONNIE SHOWS

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to request my Colleagues join me 
in recognizing May as National Stroke Awareness Month.
  Like most Americans, I have seen first hand the devastating effects 
of strokes. My own mother-in-law suffered a series of debilitating 
strokes, which left her speechless and severely weakened. She passed 
away last year, unable to communicate with her family and friends who 
had loved her for so long.
  The statistics on strokes are staggering. Every 53 seconds, someone 
in America has a stroke. About 600,000 Americans will have a stroke 
this year and 160,000 of them will die. Furthermore, stroke is our 
nation's No. 3 killer and is a leading cause of severe, long-term 
disability. Stroke kills twice as many women as breast cancer each 
year.
  It is critical that we raise awareness so that our family and friends 
do not ignore the warning signs for stroke. Too often, our natural 
inclination is to ignore troublesome ailments and hope that they'll go 
away. Unfortunately, by trying to ``sleep it off'', people lose 
valuable time when doctors can be treating their stroke. Every second 
counts.
  We need to make it a matter of course to know that numbness or 
weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body 
are serious warning signs for strokes. Sudden confusion, trouble 
speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble 
walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination and severe headache 
with no known cause are also ailments to be carefully considered.
  I am proud to stand with 173 of my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives in strong support of H.R. 3431, the Stroke Treatment 
and Ongoing Prevention Act. This important legislation will provide 
programs for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of strokes. 
Stroke is No Joke. We must act on this legislation today.

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