Morgan Fairchild Joins Neurologists, Emergency Physicians and the American Stroke Association to Educate the Public About Strok...( 'GIVE ME 5' CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF TO...),Health

'GIVE ME 5' CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF TODAY

LOS ANGELES, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Actress and activist Morgan Fairchild has teamed up with the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the American Stroke Association (ASA). She is raising awareness about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of getting to the emergency department fast with a campaign called "Give Me 5: Walk, Talk, Reach, See, Feel."

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood (and oxygen) it needs, so it starts to die. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. However, research shows the public remains unaware of its warning signs and the need for immediate medical attention, even if the symptoms subside. Those symptoms include sudden difficulty walking, talking, reaching and seeing, as well as sudden and severe headache.

"Saving someone's life - or even your own - may be as simple as remembering 'Give Me 5,'" said Ms. Fairchild. "Do not ignore symptoms, and do not delay getting to the emergency department. With stroke, every minute counts."

Ms. Fairchild, star of film, theater and television, was caregiver for her mother, who suffered a series of debilitating strokes until her death in 1999. Ms. Fairchild will be joined on the campaign by Dr. Diana Fite, an emergency physician who suffered a stroke in 2006 at age of 53, and thanks to prompt medical attention, has since made a full recovery.

"I witnessed first-hand the devastating effects of stroke on my mother," said Ms. Fairchild. "Stroke is a killer, but for too many people it doesn't need to be. If you know the warning signs and get medical help right away, you have an excellent chance of making a good recovery. Women especially need to know
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