For Immediate Release

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Low-cost stroke screenings at Mercy Hospital May 22

COON RAPIDS, Minn. 04/07/2010-- Stroke—or “brain attack”—is the number one cause of disability for adults and a leading cause of death in the U.S. More than 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year alone.

Mercy Hospital is offering  a stroke education event on Saturday, May 22,  7 - 10 a.m., to help adults determine if they are at risk for a stroke. 

Screenings will be held  from 7 - 8:45 at the Heart & Vascular Center of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. The cost of the entire program is $15 per person. The screening will include a health questionnaire, fasting total cholesterol, HDL, HDL ratio, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and pulse check. Screening preparation instructions and a map will be mailed before the event.

Each person will be able to review their screening results with a health professional. The program  includes information about reducing the risk of stroke and a presentation from  9 -9:30 a.m. by neurologist Masood Ghazali, MD, who will describe the different kinds of strokes, warning signs and the importance of early treatment.

Registration is required by calling Registration is required by calling toll-free 1-866-904-9962 or online at www.allina.com/classes.

About Mercy Hospital

Mercy Hospital, part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, is a non-profit hospital that serves the northwestern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Mercy responds to a wide range of health needs with specialty services including cancer care, heart and vascular services, mental health services, orthopedics, neurosciences, surgery and women's and children's services.

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