For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:
Elaine Smith, 763-236-7396

Low-cost stroke screenings at Mercy Hospital May 30

COON RAPIDS, Minn. 05/14/2009--Stroke – or “brain attack” - is the No. 1 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 low-cost screenings on Saturday, May 30, 7-10 a.m., to help adults determine if they are at risk for a stroke. Each person will be able to review their screening results with a health professional. The program concludes with information about reducing the risk of stroke and a presentation by neurologist Masood Ghazali, MD, who will describe the different kinds of strokes, warning signs and the importance of early treatment.

Screenings will be held on May 30, the weekend after the Memorial Day holiday, at the Heart & Vascular Center of Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids. The cost of the entire program is $15 per person.

The screening includes 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.

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

Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital, located in Coon Rapids, Minn., is a 271-bed non-profit hospital that serves the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. More information is at mercyhospital.org.