JUNE
​NATIONAL APHASIA AWARENESS MONTH ​

Aphasia
​A disorder that results from damage to areas of the brain that produce and process language. People with aphasia can have trouble speaking, reading, writing, and understanding language. both verbal and written. Aphasia typically occurs suddenly after a stroke or a head injury. Impairment can range from mild to very severe (nearly impossible to communicate in any form).

Some people with aphasia have difficulty in only one area of communication, such as trouble reading, or difficulty understanding what others are saying. More commonly, people with aphasia are limited in more than one communication area. Nearly all patients with aphasia have word-finding difficulties.

   ​    ​Stroke Survivor & Caregiver Corner

  • Find a Stroke Support Group near you
  • Make an appointment with our Stroke Physician at UTPhsyician's Neurology Clinic.
  • Resources for stroke survivors/ caregivers.
  • Learn about stroke treatment, rehabilitation and prevention.
  • Interested in participating in a Stroke related research trial?
  • Sign-up for Stroke Strides, our monthly community newsletter

Aphasia  Treatment 

  • Speech and language therapy- Focused on assisting patients in recovering language abilities, teaching how to make up for lost language skills, and training the patient and family members in alternative strategies for communication.
  • Drug Therapy- No drug has shown definitely long term benefit. Some have shown promise in small studies, but more research is needed before these drugs can be recommended.
  • Communication Aids- such as a communication board
  • Assisted Technology- such as language apps for your ipad or iphone at Tactus Therapy

Do You Know Aphasia Facts?

Take the Aphasia Facts Quiz to test your knowledge. HERE

Aphasia ID CARD

Free online tool! From the National Aphasia Association for people with aphasia. Create a personalized Aphasia ID card that you can print and start carrying right away. Helps to communicate with people who are unfamilar with aphasia. HERE

HOUSTON APHASIA RECOVERY CENTER (HARC)

HARC is open for people with aphasia, their caregivers, and families. The entry point for new participants and caregivers is the Introductory Program that evaluates communication ability and provides techniques for communicating with aphasic people. To start, call for information and ​schedule a facility tour. After your screening is complete, you will participate in the Introductory Program. Then, you and your caregiver will be part of the HARC family. Address: 5005 Woodway Drive, Suite 110, Houston, Texas 77056; 713-781-7100

​Know the Signs of Stroke  

​A stroke, is a brain attack, every second counts. Think FAST to learn stroke warning signs!

F - Ask the person to smile; Does one side droop?
A - Ask the person to raise both arms.
      Does one arm drift downward?
S - Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.
     Is their speech slurred or strange? 
​T - If you observe any of these signs,
     TIME TO CALL 911 immediately! 

Know Less Common Stroke Symptons

  • Sudden CONFUSION, trouble speaking or understanding speech.
  • Sudden TROUBLE SEEING in one or both eyes.
  • Sudden TROUBLE WALKING, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
  • Sudden SEVERE HEADACHE with no known cause.​​

High Blood Pressure = Silent Killer

Blood Pressure (BP) is the pressure of blood pushing against your artery walls. High BP or hypertension is often called the silent killer. You might not have symptoms, but it’s a leading risk factor for heart disease & stroke. 

Monitoring your BP at home can help you keep it under control. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS! Check your BP to see what category it falls into! ​
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DOWNLOAD BP TRACKER

Test Your Stroke Knowledge 

What are the risk factors for stroke?
How do you treat a stroke? How common is stroke?
Test Your Stroke Knowledge, take the Stroke Quiz below.

MIND AND BODY HEALTH

The Jung Center's Mind Body Spirit Institute-
​Weekly Meditation
Offering free, live-streamed sessions of Weekly Meditation: The Power of Community, a program focused on cultivating wellness and emotional health. To register or for more information, click on the below image. ​For further information and resources on coping with the current COVID-19 crisis, visit the Stroke Institute's Mental Health Division HERE.

Managing Stress & Anxiety in a 24-hour
​News Cycle

by Jennifer B. Hughes
As we continue to deal with the stress of COVID-19 and other information online and in the media, many people are feeling irritated and anxious. For some, this might affect how they interact with their family and friends and how they feel at work. With all the information bombarding us every single day, sometimes it feels like there is no way to escape it! Fortunately, we can take back some control and choose how much and what types of media we have in our lives. 

​It is recommended that you decide how much media is healthy for you personally and when you want to watch the news or be on social media. You might think about choosing a specific time of day, say from 4pm- 4:30pm, and ONLY allow yourself to watch the news or be online during that time. This can be tricky at first, and it's so tempting to go to social media during down times in our day, but by making this choice and sticking to it, you are taking back your power, which can help decrease anxiety and irritation.

UTHealth Stomp Out Stroke Festival Update

Thanks to our 2019 Stomp Out Stroke Festival Sponsors! 
​2019 was our last Stomp Out Stroke Festival. The festival started in 2013 and over seven years grew to one of the largest stroke community programs in the country, with thousands of Houstonians participating. We will be announcing new community programming for 2020!
  • Coming Soon- Stomp Out Stroke Day in 2021
  • Girl Scouts Stomp Out Stroke Program @ The Health Museum rescheduled for May 2021

Stroke Strides
A Monthly Community Newsletter

Connecting stroke survivors, caregivers and the community. Our focus is increasing stroke awareness and knowledge, providing stroke education, updates on stroke research and treatment and information on local resources.
​​Stroke Strides June 2020 Newsletter 
  • June is National Aphasia Awareness Month!
  • COVID-19 Keeping Patients away from Stroke Centers
  • Take the Aphasia Facts Quiz
  • Get an Aphasia ID Card
  • Managing Stress & Anxiety in a 24- Hour News Cycle​
Stroke Strides Junio 2020 Boletin 
  • ​Junio es Mes Nacional de Concienciacion Sobre de Afasia
  • COVID-19 Mantener a los Pacientes Alejados de los Centros de Accidente Cerebrovascular
  • Realice el Cuestionario de Hechos de Afasia
  • Obtenga una Tarjeta de Identificación de Afasia
  • Manejo del Estrés y la Ansiedad en un Ciclo de Noticias de 24 horas​
JUNE 2020 ISSUE

​​Subscribe to Stroke Strides

Complete  the subscription form. Enter your name and email address, click “Subscribe,” and you’re done! You will be added to our email list and receive a monthly newsletter, as well as periodic special mailings for important news updates.


​Stroke Support Groups

West Houston Stroke Warriors
Houston's largest stroke support group with over 120 stroke survivors & caregivers. Meet new friends, enjoy fun activities, or share your story with other stroke survivors. Meets Saturday @ 10 am. To join or for further information, contact Wanda Adams, 281-588-8590 or wanda.adams@hcahealthcare.com.
Find A Stroke Support Group Near You!
​For information on stroke support groups near you, go to the American Stroke Association 
Stroke Support Group Finder.
** Many stroke support groups have suspended meetings or changed their meeting format to comply with stay-at-home orders and social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. Use the contact information provided to check for meeting schedule changes before trying to attend any meeting at this time.

Volunteer Spotlight

June's Volunteer of the Month
Maria Oquendo Chan BSN, RN, CRRN

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Maria Oquendo Chan BSN, RN, CRRN, known as Dolly by her co-workers, friends and patients, is a Brain Injury and Spasticity nurse at TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Medical Clinic. Dolly completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from West Visayas State University in the Philippines. She has over 30 years of clinical experience and is a long standing member of the Association of Rehab Nursing - Southeast Texas Chapter. 

​Dolly has been nominated several times for the Daisy Award by patients and their families. She is proud to be a nurse and is dedicated to caring for her patients. and frequently volunteers in the hospital, for church and in many community outreach programs. She has been a tremendous support for our Stroke Institute Community Engagement program, participating annually in our Stomp Out Stroke Festival. Dolly has one daughter, also a nurse, who joins her on some of her volunteer services. We are excited to recognize Dolly as June's Stroke Volunteer Star!

Stroke Survivor & Caregiver Stories

​
​Ashlyn Bigger's stroke story of survival