Abrazo Community Health Network’s hospitals are offering free StrokeCheck events  in May to raise  awareness about stroke risk factors, symptoms and treatments.

Stroke is the fifth highest cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 129,000 people a year. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke once every 40 seconds, according to the American Stroke Association.

Abrazo Community Health Network is teaming up with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to provide community education and health screenings including glucose checks. The schedule is:

May 6:  9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, 3929 E. Bell Road, Phoenix.

May 7: 8 a.m. to noon, Abrazo Maryvale Campus Cafeteria Classrooms, 5102 W. Campbell Ave., Phoenix.

May 17: 8 a.m. to noon, Abrazo Peoria Emergency Center, 26900 N. Lake Pleasant Parkway, Peoria.

May 18:  8 a.m. to noon, Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital, 1930 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix

May 20: 8 a.m. to noon, Abrazo Arrowhead Campus Sierra Room, 18699 N. 67th Ave., Glendale.

May 21: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Abrazo West Campus, Second floor conference room, 13677 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix.

May 26: 8 a.m. to noon, Abrazo Central Campus Arlene Copley Wellness Center, 2000 W. Bethany Home Road.

May 28: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Abrazo Buckeye Emergency Center, 525 S. Watson Road, Buckeye.

StrokeCheck includes glucose, blood pressure and heart rate, body mass index, review of family history and risk factor assessment, stroke education and materials and counseling with a licensed medical professional. If needed, participants are requested to bring a list of current medications and recent lab work to the sessions. For the glucose screening, please fast 6-8 hours prior to the test. If you have not fasted, the test will not be performed.

For more information, go to AbrazoHealth.com/strokecheck. Registration is required. Please call 1-855-292-9355.                        

Stroke Warning Signs

Warning signs of a stroke include:

F: Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A: Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S: Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T: Time: Get the affected person to a hospital right away to receive the most effective treatment.

Act fast and call 9-1-1- immediately at any sign of stroke.