Intro to a stroke feature

Strokes kill nearly 168,000 Americans each year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, and the leading cause of long term disability in the U.S. For more than a decade, the death rate from stroke in Kansas had decreased 6%. Doctors say education and quick access to emergency care are helping people to better manage their strokes. KNUW's Carla Eckels reports on the progress of two local stroke survivors. About four million people have Alzheimer's Disease nationwide. One in ten persons over 65 and nearly half of those over 85 have Alzheimer's. In Sedgwick County 8,000 people suffer the disorder that is a gradual deterioration in the functioning of the brain. KNUW's Carla Eckels talks with a medical professional and two caregivers. Nearly one out of four households in America provides care for a person aged 50 or older. That's about 26 million family caregivers providing personal assistance to adults with

a disability or chronic illness. KNUW's Carla Eckels reports on the importance of decision-making for the chronically ill. Nearly 23,000 Kansans will die this year. One out of five die so suddenly that they are unable to make plans for the end of life. The others may have enough time after their diagnosis to convey their wishes to their loved ones for medical care, hospice, or funeral preferences, but for most families it is very difficult to talk about death. Carla Eckels reports on the importance of planning for the end of life and the possibility of a graceful exit. Every day there's another story about a threat that may affect people's health and well being. Two Wichita physicians have done research about real - and potential - risks. They will give a lecture at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita campus, later this morning. morning. KNUW's Carla Eckels talked to the doctors and reports on what some of the risks mean.