Who are we? The North Carolina Stroke Association is a 501(c) (3) organization that was founded in 1998 by a group of physicians and lay persons in their collective response to the increasing prevalence of stroke and its attendant disabilities.

Why is Stroke a problem? Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death. Annually, over 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke. Every 45 seconds, in the United States, someone suffers a stroke. North Carolina ranks 7th in the nation for stroke death. It is a form of cardiovascular disease which also causes heart disease. Unlike heart disease stroke disables more than it kills. An estimated 5 million stroke survivors live with a wide range of disabilities. Approximately 30% of stroke survivors are severely disabled, requiring extensive and costly care.

Faces of Stroke in North Carolina

How does my donation help?

• Support stroke prevention efforts through the Stroke Risk Identification Screening Program that has served over 8,300 people since 1999. The program screens individuals for medical conditions that are known to cause stroke if left untreated: elevated cholesterol, Triglycerides (fat particles in the blood), high blood pressure, irregular pulse, carotid artery disease (arteries that feed the brain with blood and oxygen), diabetes, and unhealthy lifestyle habits (smoking, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and poor weight control).

• Enhance quality of life for stroke survivor and caregivers. We provide three-month telephone calls to all stroke survivors through the Hospital Visitation Program to ensure survivors are connected to community resources vital to their recovery, and, to tailor future programs based upon survivor’s social and psychological needs. The program is provided through the NC Stroke Association’s hospital Partnerships throughout North Carolina. Over 1,800 stroke survivors and caregivers have been served since the program began in 2002.

• Support education and public awareness of stroke risk factors and symptoms through the NC Stroke Association’s library of stroke education materials and its biannual “Stroke Notes” publication, all available to the community free of charge.

• Reduce the incidence and impact of stroke in medically underserved areas of North Carolina through NC Stroke Association hospital partnerships to provide stroke prevention programs serving poor and rural counties.

• Provide partner hospitals with outcome reports from stroke screenings and follow-up calls to stroke survivors to design future programs based upon the unique needs of each community served.

• Provide stroke training to North Carolina emergency medical personnel based on the most current stroke response and transport guidelines.

• Increase the number of certified hospital stroke centers across North Carolina, through the NC Stroke Association’s stroke certification resource center.