DOWNEY - The RTH Stroke Foundation will be bringing its stroke seminar series back to the Rio Hondo Event Center, Wednesday, July 27, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 

This free event will spotlight stroke prevention and recovery. It will include an informative lecture on stroke risk factors and warning signs, TIA’s, ways of lowering your risk, and life after a stroke. 

Conducting the lecture will be Dr. Gautam Ganguly, a board certified neurologist with PIH Health in Whittier. 

Dr. Ganguly is also board certified in Sleep Medicine and Vascular Neurology. He attended medical school at Calcutta University Medical College and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Ganguly completed his residency in Neurology and a fellowship in Epilepsy and Neuromuscular Diseases at USC. 

Not only will seminar attendees gain insight from this knowledgeable neurologist, but they will also receive a free carotid artery screening, which can cost more than $500 in a doctor’s office. Blood pressure screenings will be provided for all attendees as well. 

These lifesaving screenings are very limited. To make a reservation, visit rthfoundation.org/seminars or call (888) 794-9466.  

A person’s first stroke inevitably comes as a huge surprise. You simply don’t anticipate such an event because "more than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented if we simply pay attention to the warning signs and change our lifestyle to avoid stroke," said RTH Stroke Foundation President Deborah Massaglia. "This is important for all of us, because stroke continues to be the leading cause of disability and leading killer of Americans."

Stroke warning signs are easy to recognize if you are aware of what to look for:

•    Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
•    Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
•    Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
•    Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
•    Sudden, severe headaches with no known cause (for hemorrhagic stroke)

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are also strong predictors of a stroke. They are a “warning stroke” that produces stroke-like symptoms but has no lasting damage. A person who’s had one or more TIAs is almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn’t.

Strokes can vary widely in their severity so the best way to avoid this is by taking care of yourself and your health. Warning signs are your first indication of a possible stroke and need to be taken seriously. If you or someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

The stroke education event is sponsored by the RTH Stroke Foundation, PIH Health, The Downey Patriot and the Rio Hondo Event Center.