Memorial to hold Stroke Awareness Month events

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Niagara County's first state-designated stroke center, will hold a series of community events to promote stroke awareness and prevention in May.

Headlining the series will be "Time Lost is Brain Lost - Preventing and Treating Stroke," Memorial's second annual National Stroke Awareness Month health fair. The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at Niagara Catholic High School, 520 66th St., Niagara Falls.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in America, yet the American Stroke Association says many people do not realize how educating themselves and others will help reduce the incidence of stroke. The May 14 event will emphasize stroke education and include presentations by three members of Memorial's medical staff: Dr. Nyathappa Anand, the stroke center's medical director; Dr. Anita Chaudhuri of the Diabetes & Endocrinology Center of Niagara; and Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, a vascular surgeon.

The event also will feature Wegmans healthy cooking demonstrations, health screenings, door prizes, refreshments and vendor exhibits. A light lunch will be served.

Other scheduled events include:

•A luncheon presentation, "Time Lost is Brain Lost," by Dr. Anand on Thursday, May 19, at 11:30 a.m. at the Crestwood Commons Patio Homes and Apartments Community Center, 2600 Niagara Falls Blvd., Wheatfield. Call 278-4604 to register.

•Stroke education and awareness presentations with health screenings to be held on the following dates: Tuesday, May 10, at noon, Spallino Towers, 720 10th St., Niagara Falls; Wednesday, May 11, at noon, Wrobel Towers, 800 Niagara Ave., Niagara Falls; Thursday, May 12, at 10 a.m., Calvin K. Richards Senior/Youth Activity Center, Veterans Memorial Park, 7000 Lockport Road, Town of Niagara; Tuesday, May 17, at 11 a.m., LaSalle Senior Center, 9501 Colvin Blvd., Niagara Falls; Wednesday, May 18, at 11 a.m., Community Outreach Center, Pierce Avenue and 18th Street, Niagara Falls; and Tuesday, May 24, at 11 a.m., John Duke Senior Center, 1201 Hyde Park Blvd., Niagara Falls.

All events are free.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center was designated as a stroke center by the New York State Department of Health in December 2009. The designation is part of a statewide effort to improve quality health care to stroke patients through enhanced policies, protocols, rapid evaluation and treatment.

For information about these and other events, call 278-4569 or visit www.NFMMC.org.