As part of National Stroke Awareness Month, the Universityof Louisville Hospital Stroke Teamwill be at Louisville Slugger Field on May 14^th to provide education and free blood pressure screenings to those who come by the Hall of Fame Pavilion. The stroke experts fromUniversityHospital will be there when the gates open at 5:30 p.m. and will stay until 8:00 p.m.; the first pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

The Louisville Bats organization is graciously offering a ticket voucher for the first 200 people to have their blood pressure checked. The voucher is good for up to four Field Reserve seats at $5 per seat. A ticket is not required to have your blood pressure checked as the screenings will take place directly outside the gates.

Stroke continues to be a health concern in theUnited States, especially in the Commonwealth asKentuckyranks above the national average for the prevalence of all the stroke risk factors that can be controlled or managed. Those risk factors include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Atrial fibrillation
• Obesity
• Not exercising

“Stroke is an extremely debilitating and life threatening disease,” said Dr. Kerri Remmel, Director of University Hospital’sStrokeCenter. “The good news is that many strokes can be prevented if we choose to live healthier by consuming a more balanced diet, exercising more and eliminating unhealthy habits.”

High blood pressure is one of the most common risk factors that causes stroke, and the first step to controlling blood pressure is to have it checked.

“A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80,” said Dr. Remmel. “However, if a person’s is too high, it can be managed through medication prescribed by your physician. The first step though is detecting high blood pressure through screenings like we’re providing at the Bats game.”

Come out to Louisville Slugger Field May 14 to deliver a fast pitch to prevent stroke.

Follow the University Hospital Stroke Team on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/uoflhosptalstroke.