Verde Valley Medical Center’s (VVMC) EntireCare Rehab & Sports Medicine is sponsoring a free Stroke Survivor Support Group the first Thursday of each month. The first meeting is 4 – 6 p.m., Thursday, July 7 in Conference Room A. The meeting is open to patients, family members, caregivers and anyone interested in learning about stroke prevention, treatment and care options. Light refreshments will be served.

July’s meeting will feature Ian Livingstone, M.D., a board-certified neurologist at VVMC. Dr. Livingstone works with stroke patients on a regular basis and stresses the importance of knowing the signs of a stroke and what it does to the body. “Approximately two million cells die each minute during a stroke, increasing the risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. It is so important to be able to diagnose stroke early and treat early for best outcomes and recovery,” Dr. Livingstone said.

Stroke is the most common form of nervous system-related physical disability. Symptoms of a stroke develop quickly and include numbness in the face, arms and legs, especially on one side of the body; difficulty balancing and walking; sudden blurred vision; slurred speech; and confusion. During a stroke, blocked blood vessels limit the supply of blood to the brain. When the brain senses that it is not receiving enough blood and oxygen, it sends signals that begin enlarging surrounding arteries in an attempt to compensate. If the brain does not restore the proper amount of blood and oxygen within four minutes, brain cells can start to die and possibly cause permanent brain damage.

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide and the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. As many as 700,000 Americans are affected by a stroke every year, with 500,000 being first attacks and 200,000 being recurrent attacks. Approximately 28 percent of strokes occur in people younger than 65 years old and the risk of stroke doubles every 10 years after the age of 55.

For more information about VVMC’s stroke support group, please call 928 282-6775.