Canada's premier stroke conference. 8th Canadian Stroke Congress. September 9-11, 2017.

Get involved. They need survivors on the board. Don't take no for an answer.
http://www.strokecongress.ca/
We have a vacancy on our Board of Directors in #Newfoundland! Contact Bruce Knox at bruce.knox@heartandstroke.ca for details.

View the Program for the 2017 Canadian Stroke Congress.

Ask your doctor what rehabilitation protocols come out of this.
View the Program for the 2017 Canadian Stroke Congress.

Stroke Rehabilitation at a Crossroads: We Must Find Ways to Deliver Intensive Therapy to Meet the Demands of an Aging Population

Like maybe a strategy that will solve all the fucking problems in stroke?  But I bet small bore ideas will take the day. You children and grandchildren will continue to be screwed post stroke.
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/stroke-rehabilitation-crossroads-we-must-find-ways-deliver-intensive-therapy-meet-demands-2158653.htm
While Huge Strides have Been Made in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation, New Technologies and More Community-Based Therapy Are Needed, Canadian Stroke Congress Told

QUEBEC CITY, QC--(Marketwired - September 15, 2016) - As the number of people surviving stroke and living with long-term disability continues to rise, Canadian health systems must deploy new approaches to maximize stroke recovery and relieve the burden on caregivers.
More than 85 per cent of people survive a stroke, but "many people are left with significant disabilities," says Dr. Robert Teasell, research director of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Western University. He will address 800 delegates at his opening lecture today at the Canadian Stroke Congress. At least 405,000 Canadians live with long-term stroke disability -- a number expected to almost double in the next two decades due to the aging population, according to a recent study published in Stroke.
Delivering timely focused rehabilitation is critical in the days, weeks and months after a stroke when the injured brain is primed for recovery. It is during this "window of opportunity" when intensive therapy can help people achieve the best possible recovery, says Dr. Teasell. "Early and intensive stroke rehabilitation is becoming the recognized standard of care across Canada and that care has been steadily improving."
Dr. Teasell notes, however, that "stroke rehabilitation is now at a crossroads." Although stroke rehabilitation has gotten much better in Canada, an aging population and better acute care is increasing the number of stroke survivors who need therapy. Rehabilitation must continue to innovate and adapt to cope with increasing demand. (Wrong, prevention of neuronal cascade of death needs to be solved. Fix the correct problem you fucking idiots.)
There is growing evidence that more rehabilitation therapy should be delivered in the community, he says. "This includes not just therapy, but other aspects of care such as better screening and assessment for depression, which if not diagnosed and treated can negate some of our best rehab efforts," says Dr. Teasell, who is medical director of the stroke rehabilitation program at Parkwood Institute in London, ON.
Economic analyses reveal the health-care system would save at least $2 for every $1 spent on outpatient or community-based therapies, says Dr. Teasell, who leads the evidence-based Review of Stroke Rehabilitation, the go-to resource for stroke rehabilitation.
Improved support for caregivers -- who experience greater physical demands, higher stress and reduced quality of life -- will also ensure more stroke survivors are able to remain at home.
As well, health systems need to harness proven new technologies such as robotics, virtual reality, video games, brain stimulation, and innovative new pharmacological treatments to enhance therapy and brain recovery, Dr. Teasell says.
"Through our advocacy efforts and our investment in research and clinical trials, we are working hard to improve recovery for Canadians living with stroke," says Dr. Patrice Lindsay, director of stroke for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "The Heart and Stroke Foundation's Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations are informed by the latest research to provide clinicians with up-to-date evidence-based guidelines for the prevention and management of stroke, and to promote optimal recovery and reintegration for people who have experienced stroke (including patients, families, and informal caregivers)."
The Heart and Stroke Foundation Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery, which funds some of Dr. Teasell's research, brings together the top stroke recovery researchers from universities and hospitals across Canada and around the world to restore lives affected by stroke.
"The reality is, even with optimal prevention and treatment, there will be many people living with severe disability from stroke," says Dr. Dale Corbett, scientific director and CEO of the HSF Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery. "Research is crucial to finding new ways to make significant improvements in people's lives."
STROKE FACTS:

• 62,000 strokes occur in Canada each year -- that is one stroke every nine minutes.
• More than 400,000 Canadians are living with long-term disability from stroke.
• In the next two decades, the number of people living with long-term stroke disability will increase by 80 per cent to 726,000.
• Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after stroke.
• Each year, more than 13,000 Canadians die from stroke.
• Half of Canadians report having a close friend or family member who survived a stroke.
• Stoke is a powerful predictor of dementia: Having a stroke more than doubles someone's risk of developing dementia.

The Congress is being held in Quebec City from September 15 to 17, 2016. Follow us on Twitter @strokecongress, #CanadianStrokeCongress.
Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CSC policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Congress make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
Co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the Canadian Stroke Congress is a uniquely Canadian forum for experts to share the latest research findings, exchange ideas, and make the connections which will change the future of stroke. It brings together researchers, neurologists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, policy makers, health system decision makers -- and many others -- in an unprecedented opportunity to improve the brain health of Canadians.
The Canadian Stroke Consortium (CSC) is the professional organization for stroke neurologists, leading continuing education, advocacy and research for health care professionals. The CSC has several membership categories allowing a broad spectrum of health care professionals to benefit from its educational programs, clinical research, and advocacy efforts.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen. heartandstroke.ca

Contact Information

For media interviews, please contact:
Diane Hargrave
dhprbks@interlog.com
416-467-9954, ext. 104

After September 17, 2016, contact:Jane-Diane Fraser
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
jfraser@hsf.ca
(613) 691-4020
Cell from Sept 15-17: 613-406-3282

Saturday's Highlights From the Canadian Stroke Congress

At least Canada is doing something about stroke. 
http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/saturdays-highlights-from-the-canadian-stroke-congress-2159282.htm
Shining a Light on the Future of Stroke

QUEBEC CITY, QC--(Marketwired - September 17, 2016) - Canada's leading stroke experts meet in Quebec City today for the final day of the 2016 Stroke Congress. The unique and collaborative forum continues to highlight the latest research and best practices which will reduce the impact of stroke on Canadian families.
"The lectures, workshops, and research presented at this year's Congress showcase the commitment to excellence and the collaboration within Canada's world-class stroke community," says Dr. Jeffrey Minuk, co-chair of the Canadian Stroke Congress. "We look forward to seeing their hard work come to life in our health system and have a real impact in people's lives."
Saturday Sept. 17 Conference Highlights:
Canadian Stroke Congress 2016's top research breakthroughs: Highlights of this year's top breakthroughs in Canadian stroke research will be presented today, including the Co-Chair Impact and Innovation Awards. (See the Congress program for full list)
Caring for caregivers: The 2016 Co-Chair Award for Impact WinnerA tremendous amount of research has gone into how to help survivors cope with stroke's impact on their lives. But what about their families and caregivers? Family caregivers play one of the most important roles in the recovery and rehabilitation of stroke patients yet they can struggle in navigating this new role. Timing it Right Stroke Family Support Program addresses caregivers changing needs as people with stroke transition from acute care, through rehabilitation, and return to community living. (Jill Cameron, Toronto ON)
Putting stroke on ice: The 2016 Co-Chair Award for Innovation Winner
How does cooling the body help treat the brain? Research is still gaining insight into the benefits of therapeutic hypothermia in treating ischemic stroke and this study aims to better understand the treatment effectiveness and complications in hemorrhagic stroke. This "cool" therapy could help treat stroke. (Frederick Colbourne, Edmonton AB)
Stroke in the Young, Younger & Youngest: Stroke can happen at any age, including infants and children. It is important that the public know the stroke FAST warning signs and that healthcare professionals think of stroke early when determining a diagnosis and not lose valuable treatment time, even in children. The age where stroke starts to affect people is getting younger and this could potentially become a major health crisis. Canada's stroke experts are leading the way in prevention and management of stroke in younger populations. In this presentation, stroke experts discuss the most common causes, recommended investigations and treatment approaches in children and young adults. (Tom Jeerakathil, Edmonton AB & Mahendra Moharir, Toronto ON)
Putting stroke prevention on the map: In a country as large and diverse as ours, new research finds that 90 per cent of all Canadians live within an hour's drive of stroke prevention services. This study geo-mapped the access of patients who are a high-risk of stroke to prevention services. Unfortunately not all access is equal though, due to gaps such as geography, equipment availability, and hours of operation. While close to 90 per cent of Ontarians are within an hour of prevention services, only 70 per cent of those in Saskatchewan, 53.7 per cent of those in Newfoundland, and 39.3 per cent of those living in New Brunswick are within an hour drive. These maps will help identify the disparities in access and potential areas of need to help optimize stroke prevention service delivery and resource allocation planning across Canada. How can Canada address these gaps? Looking at the stroke prevention services criteria identified by this study, the Heart and Stroke Foundation will drive improvements and inform prevention services of the critically needed elements to close these gaps. (Patrice Lindsay, Toronto ON & Lauren Jewett, Calgary AB)
Life after stroke: Stroke experts look at some after-effects of stroke -- depression, cognitive impairment, and sexuality -- and how these challenges impact recovery and can, in fact, become more of an issue than the stroke itself. Information and resources to support the important role of healthcare providers in assessing and helping survivors work though these challenges are addressed in this presentation. (Michel Shamy, Ottawa ON & Leanne Casaubon, Toronto ON)
"Enhancements to this year's program have resulted in increased participation, enthusiasm and greater networking opportunities," says Dr. Patrice Lindsay, director of stroke for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Experts will return home to their labs and stroke clinical practices armed with new tools and knowledge that will improve the health of people in communities across Canada."
She notes that more than half of Canadians have been directly touched by stroke. "There's an urgent need to ease the burden for survivors and their families. Despite tremendous progress in prevention, treatment and recovery, strokes still occur once every nine minutes and are responsible for 13,000 deaths each year."
STROKE FACTS:

• 62,000 strokes occur in Canada each year - that is one stroke every nine minutes.
• More than 400,000 Canadians are living with long-term disability from stroke.
• In the next two decades, the number of people living with long-term stroke disability will increase by 80 per cent to 726,000.
• Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after stroke.
• Each year, more than 13,000 Canadians die from stroke.
• Half of Canadians report having a close friend or family member who survived a stroke.
• Stoke is a powerful predictor of dementia: Having a stroke more than doubles someone's risk of developing dementia.

The Congress is being held in Quebec City from September 15 to 17, 2016. Follow us on Twitter @strokecongress, #CanadianStrokeCongress.
Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CSC policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Congress make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
Co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the Canadian Stroke Congress is a uniquely Canadian forum for experts to share the latest research findings, exchange ideas, and make the connections which will change the future of stroke. It brings together researchers, neurologists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, policy makers, health system decision makers -- and many others -- in an unprecedented opportunity to improve the brain health of Canadians.
The Canadian Stroke Consortium (CSC) is the professional organization for stroke neurologists, leading continuing education, advocacy and research for health care professionals. The CSC has several membership categories allowing a broad spectrum of health care professionals to benefit from its educational programs, clinical research, and advocacy efforts.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen. heartandstroke.ca

Contact Information

For media interviews, please contact: Diane Hargrave
dhprbks@interlog.com
416-467-9954, ext. 104

After September 17, 2016, contact:
Jane-Diane Fraser
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
jfraser@hsf.ca
(613) 691-4020
Cell from Sept 15-17: 613-406-3282

Friday's Highlights From the Canadian Stroke Congress

At least Canada is doing something about stroke.


http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/fridays-highlights-from-the-canadian-stroke-congress-2159078.htm

QUEBEC CITY, QC--(Marketwired - September 16, 2016) - The Canadian Stroke Congress continues today in Quebec City, with over 100 speakers who will share their research discoveries with 800 delegates. The Congress is a catalyst for partnerships, collaboration, and new ideas, which are all aimed at improving the health of Canadians.
"The passion and innovation of Canada's stroke researchers and practitioners make a true difference to the lives of families," says Dr. Jeffrey Minuk, co-chair of the Canadian Stroke Congress. "Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are living with the effects of stroke. The research discoveries shared at the Congress will fuel the ideas and inspire the people driving advances in prevention, care, and recovery."
Friday Sept. 16 Conference Highlights
The Great Debate: Wake-Up Stroke: The revolutionary clot buster tPA can diminish or reverse the devastating effects of stroke if given within a few hours of the onset of stroke. And the new endovascular therapy cuts the overall death rate in half for people with major ischemic strokes. But it too must be given within the first hours following stoke. When someone wakes up with stroke symptoms, how does one know when the stroke occurred- and if they are eligible for these time-sensitive treatments? Two of Canada's leading neurologists debate the pros and cons of treating wake-up ischemic stroke with these therapies, and look at the controversies surrounding the acute management of these patients. (Michael Hill and Mike Sharma, chaired by Gord Gubitz)
The Great Debate: Does Rehabilitation Really Matter? Yesterday Dr. Robert Teasell opened the Congress with a call for the need for earlier stroke rehabilitation and innovative new models of care. Today, leading specialists take a deeper dive into the debate on how to provide the best rehab to promote recovery. Can long-term recovery be predicted from the initial post-stroke level of impairment? How important are biological recovery processes in spontaneous post-stroke recovery? Does the extent to which people with stroke reengage within the community relate to their long-term outcomes? Chaired by Sean Dukelow, this debate squares off international experts with team members from Canada, the U.S., and the Netherlands.
Breaking down the barriers to recovery in rural Quebec: It's essential to minimize the urban-rural discrepancies in access to stroke care. In a country the size of Canada, we have to be creative in finding ways to extend the best care to smaller communities, and provide consistent services and the best outcomes. What happens to stroke survivors who live outside city cores? Telestroke uses technology to connect referring and consulting healthcare sites for real-time assessment and management, providing stroke patients with extended access to treatments and services. The unfortunate reality: telestroke is underused. This Quebec research explores creative ways to bring the best care to smaller communities using telerehab. (Helene Corriveau, Sherbrooke, QC)
The stroke continuum of care in the province of Quebec: A health system leader gives her perspective on the stroke continuum of care -- from prevention to assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation -- in the province of Quebec (Josée Simoneau, Victoriaville QC)
A culture-based approach to blood pressure screening for Indigenous communities: Indigenous people in Canada have experienced poor health outcomes and a substandard state of health and well-being as a result of inadequate medical diagnosis and treatment of preventable diseases. Up to 80 per cent of premature heart disease and stroke can be prevented by reducing risk factors, including managing blood pressure, the leading cause of stroke. The Deseronto Blood Pressure Screening Project in Southeastern Ontario adapted their screening process based on Mohawk teachings. Study results found that culturally safe care provided in a manner in which Indigenous identity and personhood is acknowledged and valued is effective. These culturally inspired strategies will result in increased participation and could ultimately help to reduce the risk for heart disease and stroke in this community and many others. (Maureen Buchanan & Kathy Brant (Kingston ON)
Driving a car post-stroke: Keys to independence. Only one in two stroke survivors return to driving after a stroke. This lowers their independence and quality of life, and increases costs to the health system. Yet only six per cent of people who have had a stroke in the Canada have access to driving rehabilitation -- and those who do have to wait months to be seen. An early training driving program piloted by The Villa Medica hospital in Montreal promotes the safe resumption of driving for stroke patients. Based on scientific evidence and the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations, the program breaks new ground by working with an occupational therapist and using an innovative technique to guide driving rehabilitation. The program reduced waiting times by more than 50 per cent and received a 98 per cent satisfaction rate from its 300 participants. (Bruno Ollivry, Montreal QC)
Finding life after stroke: Challenges and opportunities. For people who experience stroke, survival is the first hurdle many face. But what happens after the patient leaves the hospital? Stroke recovery is a journey that can continue for years or a lifetime. And how does the stroke impact families and loved ones, who often take on the new -- and often daunting -- role of caregiver? The role that relatives or close friends of stroke survivors carry out is essential to the recovery journey. While stroke changes lives, it is important to know that there is life after stroke. From relearning routine activities and regaining abilities, to coping with frustrations and learning to be independent again, stroke shouldn't have to prevent people from living their lives to their fullest capacities. Rehabilitation allows patients and their families to reach their full potential and accomplish meaningful activities and roles. For stroke survivors and their loved ones, continued advances in rehabilitation and recovery can mean real hope for a better future. (Annie Rochette, Montreal QC)
"From investing in high-impact stroke research, to delivering vital public education such as the FAST signs of stroke, Heart & Stroke is committed to saving lives and reducing disability," says Dr. Patrice Lindsay, director of stroke for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "Despite progress, there is still much to be done. The evolving scientific evidence shared at Congress will inform and continue to shape health information and policy -- and save lives."
STROKE FACTS:

• 62,000 strokes occur in Canada each year -- that is one stroke every nine minutes.
• More than 400,000 Canadians are living with long-term disability from stroke.
• In the next two decades, the number of people living with long-term stroke disability will increase by 80 per cent to 726,000.
• Brain cells die at a rate of 1.9 million per minute after stroke.
• Each year, more than 13,000 Canadians die from stroke.
• Half of Canadians report having a close friend or family member who survived a stroke.
• Stoke is a powerful predictor of dementia: Having a stroke more than doubles someone's risk of developing dementia.

The Congress is being held in Quebec City from September 15 to 17, 2016. Follow us on Twitter @strokecongress, #CanadianStrokeCongress.
Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Foundation or CSC policy or position. The Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Congress make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
Co-hosted by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Stroke Consortium, the Canadian Stroke Congress is a uniquely Canadian forum for experts to share the latest research findings, exchange ideas, and make the connections which will change the future of stroke. It brings together researchers, neurologists, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, policy makers, health system decision makers -- and many others -- in an unprecedented opportunity to improve the brain health of Canadians.
The Canadian Stroke Consortium (CSC) is the professional organization for stroke neurologists, leading continuing education, advocacy and research for health care professionals. The CSC has several membership categories allowing a broad spectrum of health care professionals to benefit from its educational programs, clinical research, and advocacy efforts.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen. heartandstroke.ca

Contact Information

For media interviews, please contact: Diane Hargrave
dhprbks@interlog.com
416-467-9954, ext. 104

After September 17, 2016, contact:Jane-Diane Fraser
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
jfraser@hsf.ca
(613) 691-4020
Cell from Sept 15-17: 613-406-3282