WorldStrokeDay - can you help?

An email from the American Stroke Association. My response back at the end.

Hello, Dean!

I'm the social media manager for the American Stroke Association and I am hoping that you will be able to help us with our #WorldStrokeDay campaign.

World Stroke Day is October 29 and we need you to help us end this leading killer of Americans. We want to educate all Americans how to recognize and react in a stroke emergency. You can help us by sharing these messages in social media throughout October.

Here are some posts you can use:

#WorldStrokeDay is October 29 and 1 in 3 Americans don’t know how to recognize a stroke. When you don’t know what to look for, you can’t save a life. I want to change that and you can help us! Download and share @American Stroke Association’s stroke warning signs app. http://bit.ly/1nNG8cx

Survival is why I want to end stroke. #LifeIsWhy the American Stroke Association is working to end stroke every day of the year. On October 29, #WorldStrokeDay, they are doing more than ever. Take this pledge and help us end stroke for good. http://bit.ly/1rIxGBp

Ending stroke is a big job, but we can all play a part. Pledge to help on #WorldStrokeDay http://bit.ly/1rIxGBp

When strokes strike, minutes matter. Share the signs and be prepared. #WorldStrokeDay http://bit.ly/1rXzPrl

Survival is why I want everyone to know what to do in a stroke emergency. #LifeisWhy #WorldStrokeDay http://bit.ly/1rXzPrl

(ON OCT 29) Today, the world comes together to end stroke. Do you know what to do in a stroke emergency? #WorldStrokeDay http://bit.ly/1rXzPrl

Please let me know if you have any questions! We appreciate your support!

Best,

Alexson

Alexson Calahan
Manager, Engagement Marketing

7272 Greenville Avenue  I  Dallas, Texas 75231
alexson.calahan@heart.org  I  www.heart.org I  www.strokeassociation.org
P 515-994-0772

Dear M. Calahan,
I consider your organization a huge part of the problem. You put out press releases but never solve any of the problems in stroke.You keep pushing the F.A.S.T. paradigm and tPA which is a 12% efficacy failure. You are solving the wrong problem by assuming that total stroke prevention is the way to go. I'd be willing to bet you could save more neurons in total by stopping the neuronal cascade of death in the first week. You can never prevent all strokes and TBIs would be able to be helped by this approach also. Even if you could prevent all 80% of preventable strokes that would still leave 3 million persons yearly needing intervention worldwide.  If you want to be useful you will publicize the existing problems in stroke and what exactly you are doing to solve those problems. 

Read my blog Deans' Stroke Musings -  www.oc1dean.blogspot.com and come back in 10 months after reading it all and tell me what your association has that is useful for survivors.

0. There is no fast, easy and objective way to diagnose a stroke.
1. tPA may save your life but only has a 12% efficacy for full recovery.
2. Your neurologist doesn't have any concrete stroke protocols to save all the neurons that are dying in the first week.
3. Your neurologist or physiatrist doesn't have any clue about how to get you to full recovery. (Ask them exactly how to do it), you'll get excuses.
4. Only 10% get to full recovery.
5. No protocols to prevent your 33% chance of getting dementia post-stroke.
6. Nothing to alleviate your fatigue.
7. Nothing that will cure your spasticity.
8. Nothing on cognitive training unless you find this yourself.
9. No published stroke protocols.
10. No way to compare your stroke hospital results vs. other stroke hospitals. Results not processes!
11.  No Specific post-stroke stroke and dementia prevention diet.