April 2011
Where caring counts. Feel the difference.
TM
Vol. 27 No. 2
Was That a Stroke? How to Know
You can help avoid a stroke by controlling
risk factors and treating other medical conditions that could lead to a stroke. This is especially urgent if you have already had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which may indicate an imminent stroke. In either case, prompt medical attention is important. Here’s what else you can do:
8 Have regular medical checkups 8 Seek immediate medical help as soon as you detect any stroke symptoms
8 Avoid smoking or illegal drugs, and limit alcohol use
8 Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; eat less sodium, saturated fats, and high-cholesterol foods
8 Exercise 8 Consult your physician regarding available medications or procedures
8 Avoid birth control or hormone replacement therapy.
PUS RENeWA L AM
JECT #9 PRO
How to Prevent a Stroke
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Worried about the possibility of suffering a stroke? The following general symptoms can offer a clue: 8 Sudden numbness, tingling, weakness, or paralysis in your arm, face, or leg, especially on only one side of your body 8 Sudden changes in vision 8 Sudden problems speaking 8 Sudden confusion or trouble understanding simple statements 8 Sudden trouble with walking or balance 8 An abrupt, severe headache that is different from previous headaches Seek emergency medical care if you notice symptoms of a stroke. Depending on its severity, its location in the brain, and whether its cause is a blood clot or bleeding, the symptoms may vary. Though a stroke usually happens suddenly, it may take hours to occur, beginning with mild symptoms such as weakness, and eventually leading to a loss of mobility in some parts of your body. When many small strokes happen over time, symptoms tend to lead to a gradual change in balance, behavior, thinking, or walking. This is known as multi-infarct dementia. Recognizing symptoms of a small stroke isn’t always easy. They can often be mistakenly attributed to aging, or be confused with symptoms of other conditions. (See healthy recipe, page 2)
Campus Renewal Project By Derek Rae, Construction Manager, Associate, OAC Services, Inc.
C onstruction of the longawaited Campus Renewal Project is planned to begin in April. We have received bids for demolition, concrete, ear thwork and abatement. Plans are in place to relocate the mobile MRI to the lower east parking lot. By relocating the MRI, the South Entrance will be cleared for construction of the new surgical wing. By mid-April, the South Entrance will be closed and south access will be limited through the existing exit door at the end of the Administration hallway. All visitor/patient access will remain through the North Main Entrance, as it exists today. A Volunteer Desk will be in the south wing to assist visitors and patients with directions. Construction fencing will be placed around the work areas to protect
Conceptual drawing of Mason General Hospital. See “Ground Breaking” story on page 7…
staff and onlookers throughout the project. Also starting in April, work will begin in the lower parking lot for the new emergency generator building and a retention pond. Bid requests for the remainder of construction are being Continued on page 2…