For professional golfers Meg Mallon and Justin Leonard, stroke has significance well beyond their golf games. Both players have a family history of cardiovascular disease, one of the risk factors for stroke. Mallon s mother has had several mini-strokes and Leonard s grandfather died of heart disease. During the month of May, Stroke Awareness Month, Mallon and Leonard are challenging Americans to treat stroke as a medical emergency and to increase their awareness by learning the risk factors and warning signs for stroke. Studies prove that early intervention recognizing the warning signs, calling 911 immediately, getting to a hospital fast can greatly reduce the debilitating effects of stroke.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in the United States.
In addition, golfers can sign up for the contest by completing an entry form found in the coupon section of their Sunday newspaper on May 20 th . And, one lucky participant is guaranteed to drive away in a 2001 Volkswagen Golf. It is the third-leading cause of death behind diseases of the heart and cancer, and causes more than 158,000 deaths each year or one death every 3.3 minutes. If people experience any of these warning signs, they should immediately call 911 or their local emergency number. Every minute counts.