The Roxanna Todd Hodges Stroke Foundation
23382 Mill Creek Drive Suite 130
Laguna Hills, CA 92653-7931
Office phone: 949-305-8450 or
Alternate phone: 888-794-9466
Fax: 949-916-1780
www.rthfoundation.org
NON PROFIT
ORG.
US POSTAGE PAID
IRVINE, CA
PERMIT # 94
STRIDES AGAINST STROKE
Healthy Diet, Quitting Smoking & Limited Alcohol Use
Nov/Dec 2014
“Understanding the warning signs is important because there are treatments we can give for
stroke. If you understand the warning signs and get to the hospital quickly we can even possibly
reverse the stroke itself,”
~Dr. Dawn Kleindorferr, Assistant Professor of Neurology at University of Cincinnati School of Medicine.
In This Issue:

See our new offices &
Our new SSRP
program ..pg. 2
North & South Orange
County Stroke Support
Groups... pg. 2


LONG BEACH MEMORIAL MEDICAL
CENTER
Our Mission
The primary mission of the RTH
Stroke Foundation is to prevent
stroke. We do this in two ways:
 Conducting community
education seminars and
screenings
 Providing stroke survivors and
their families with education
and support
Our Vision
We are driven to eradicate
strokes as much as is humanly
possible and to improve the
quality of life of stroke survivors
by doing all we can to mitigate
the after-effects of strokes.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014 1:30-3:30 PM
Stroke Awareness & TIA's
Stopping Smoking pg. 3
Stopping Smoking Reduces Risk of Stroke
 Risk for a stroke
temporarily increases a
hour after drinking alcohol
…. pg. 5

Guest Speaker: Angela West, MSN, RN, CCRN
Long Beach Petroleum Club
3636 Linden Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807
Free: Cholesterol/Glucose & Blood Pressure Screenings
Reservations are required for all screenings.
Visit our website to register at www.rthfoundation.org
Or call: 888-794-9466
The RTH Stroke Foundation/OC Stroke Association is a nonprofit 501 (C) (3) Corporation.
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list please call 949-305-8450.
Any reprinting of this newsletter without prior consent is prohibited.
This Newsletter is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Dr. Matthew Tenser discusses smoking and your risk of stroke:
There are two categories of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The
Diet and Lifestyle pg. 4
A toxic combination
….... pg. 6
 Recipe: Crock Pot
Chicken Cacciatore pg. 7
non-modifiable risk factors, or those that cannot be changed, include age, race, sex, and

Did you know?... pg. 7
family history. The modifiable factors, those that can be altered through lifestyle changes,

Upcoming Seminars ...
pg. 8
medications, or surgery, include hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and tobacco use.
Studies have shown that the risk of stroke doubles or triples for those who smoke and the
risk for those who smoke twenty cigarettes per day ...cont.pg 3
Page 2
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
Stroke Support Group
Laguna Hills/ South
Orange County
Held: 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every
month
Where:
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
Page 7
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
This is an easy recipe for classic chicken cacciatore. It’s perfect for the quick
cook who's looking for a tasty, budget-friendly option.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 onion, sliced
A glance into our new offices
Stroke Survivor Recovery Program
Survivor ~
Recovery ~
Program ~
Nearly 800,000
Americans
suffer a stroke
each year, making stroke the
fourth leading
cause of death in
this country.
More than 7
million people in
the United States
have survived a
stroke. You have
needs. You have
questions.
You and your
loved ones want
the best rehab
program
possible.
Remember that
survivors are not
the same.
Learn about
physical and
emotional problems, and how to
combat them, as
well as day-to-day
tips for starting
recovery at home.
Your Recovery
We realize the challenges that you
might be faced with as well as a long
journey to recovery when left to deal
with so many unanswered questions,
and challenges, as a result from
having a stroke.
We strive to help improve your quality
of life and achieve your personal best
during recovery.
Making your recovery easier is our
main objective. Our staff is able to
provide support through our recommended agencies that service the
Orange County, CA area.
Our Goal
Helping support any stroke survivor
along with their family, friends, and
caregivers is the goal of the Stroke
Survivor Recovery Program.
We are here to provide resources to
help in the aide of stroke recovery for
stroke survivors.
The RTH Stroke Foundation’s SSRP
team can help determine what care is
best suited for you in the aftermath of
a stroke.
1 green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
Session #1: 10:00am-11:30am
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomato
Stroke Survivors & Caregivers
3 cloves garlic, minced
Session #2: 1:30pm-3:00pm
Stroke ~
Because there is
Life After Stroke
23382 Mill Creek Dr. Suite 130
Laguna Hills, CA 92653
REFERRAL SOURCES
Medical
Professional
teams in post
care needs
Family Support
and Support
Groups
Skilled
Nursing,
Sub-acute
Care
Facilities
Adult Day Care
Centers, Senior
Centers, and
Respite Care
Putting together
a rehab team of
specialists in
Stroke
In-Home
Care and
Home
Health
State and
Government
funded programs
Special clinics
that specialize in
stroke recovery
Stroke
Education
Clinic
Physiologist and
Physiatrist
Transportation
needs and DMV
resources
In-Home
Education
and visits
Dietician and
Nutrition
Long-term Insurance needs
Medication
set-up
MindBodySpirit Connection
Stroke Support Group
Brea/ North Orange
County
Held: 1st & 3rd Thursday of every
month
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Support for Survivors &
Caregivers
Where:
Capriana Oakmont Signature
Living
460 S. La Floresta
Brea, CA 92823
2 (6-ounce) cans no salt added tomato paste
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
6 medium chicken thighs, skins removed
Instructions
1. Place all the ingredients in a crock pot.
2. Cook on high for 4 hours.
3. Serve the chicken over whole wheat rotini pasta if
desired.
Recipe Cost: $7.49










Serving Size: 1 chicken
thigh + 1 cup sauce
Calories170
Carbohydrate18g
Protein16 g
Fat5.0 g
Saturated Fat1.3 g
Sugar10g
Dietary Fiber4 g
Cholesterol70mg
Sodium200mg
Potassium935mg
Side Suggestion: ¾ cup cooked whole wheat rotini pasta
MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: Confirm all ingredients are gluten-free and this recipe
can be gluten-free. ~Diabetes Forecast®
Roxanna Todd Hodges
is the founder of
our Foundation.
Roxanna passed
away peacefully in
2011. If she would
have known the
warning signs and
the risk factors, things may have
been very different for her. When
Roxanna suffered 3 major strokes,
her understanding of the critical
need for Stroke ‘brain attack’
awareness and treatment
advances led her to establish the
Roxanna Todd Hodges
Foundation. Her wish was to inform
the public on Stroke Awareness.
Today, the RTH Stroke Foundation
provides free prevention
screenings and seminars to local
area hospitals, senior centers, and
churches. Her last words spoken
were: “Strike out Stroke”
DID YOU KNOW?.....
Please call our office for further
information &
to make a reservation.
888-794-9466 or
www.rthfoundation.org
Reservations Requested
Please join us and get the help
you need today!
Cost: FREE
Refreshments to be
served!
The RTH Stroke Foundation is a
non-profit 501(C) (3) corporation
which operates the OC Stroke
Association. Tax ID information is
available upon request by calling
(888) 794-9466.
Did you know that beets may benefit your brain and body? Studies show that dietary
nitrate from beets may useful in areas of the brain involved in executive functioning.
Did you know that dark chocolate (at least 70%) is very good for you?
Eating one square a day can have effects as an antioxidant, antihypertensive, anti-nflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-thrombotic, insulin
sensitivity, and activation of nitric oxide which helps promote healthy
blood flow and oxygen to the brain! Studies have shown that higher dark
chocolate consumption may contribute to lower risk of stroke!
Page 6
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
This simple test will
help you detect
stroke symptoms
and Act F. A. S. T.
Few Americans know
the symptoms of stroke.
Learning them - and
acting FAST when they
occur - could save your
life or the life of a loved
one.
F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one
side of the face droop?
A = ARM Ask the
person to raise both
arms. Does one arm drift
downward?
S = SPEECH Ask the
person to repeat a
simple sentence. Does
the speech sound slurred
or strange?
T = TIME If you
observe any of these
signs, it’s time to call
9-1-1 or get to the nearest Stroke Center or
hospital.
Page 3
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
Stopping Smoking continue from pg.1
...may be six times higher than non-
smokers. Smoking just one cigarette can increase heart rate
and blood pressure, and can make the vessels less flexible.
Smoking affects the amount of oxygen available in the blood,
forcing the heart to work harder. Smoking can also worsen
the lipid profile of patients, increasing their triglycerides and
low-density lipoprotein (“bad cholesterol”) and lowering their
HDL (“good cholesterol”). It also promotes atherosclerosis
and narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, as well as the heart and peripheral
vessels. Environmental smoke, also known as passive or second-hand smoke, is also
You can be one of the millions of people who successfully quit every year
a known risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Some studies have suggested
This Holiday Season should be about
family, food and good times. Sometimes its
about adding a few extra pounds to our
waistlines. If we try some small changes for
your favorite holiday meals maybe our
Why you should quit? The relationship between
that the risk of stroke due to environmental smoke approaches that of active smokers.
waistlines will not change too much.
Another study suggested an increased risk of heart attack and stroke with use of
smoking and lung cancer is well known, but smoking is known to be connected to
heart disease, stroke and other chronic lung diseases? Smoking can also intensify
your risk for cancer of the bladder, throat and mouth, kidneys, cervix and pancreas.
Are you considering quitting? Look at the facts that may help you make that decision!
 Smoking is a preventable cause of death in the United States.
 Smoking causes more than 1 in 5 deaths in America.
 90% of lung cancer in men is directly related to smoking and 80% of lung cancer
in women is caused by cigarettes.
 23% of adult men and about 18% of adult women smoke.
 The highest % of people who smoke are between the ages of 25 and 44.
 According to the AHA, most adult smokers started smoking when they were in
middle school. Unfortunately, many young people don’t fully understand the dangers
of smoking.
 60% of American children ages 4-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke in home.
 The average smoker will die 13 to 14 years earlier than nonsmokers.
 Since 1965, more than 45% of adults who have ever smoked have QUIT.
 You can be one of the millions of people who successfully quit every year.
smokeless tobacco. Smoking can also potentiate the other vascular risk factors,
Activities: We need to remember to increase our physical activity during the holiday season. Family walks after each meal
or gathering can be a fun and enjoyable.
Playing basketball, jumping rope or playing
catch are also good family activities.
Carbon monoxide & nicotine: A toxic pair
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas you inhale when you smoke. When it is in
your lungs, it is transported into your bloodstream. Carbon monoxide cuts the amount
of oxygen that is passed into the red blood cells. It also raises the amount of cholesterol that is placed into the inner lining of your arteries which, over time, can cause the
arteries to harden. This leads to heart disease, artery disease and maybe a heart attack.
Nicotine is a dangerous and a highly addictive substance. It can cause an increase in blood pressure, heart rate,
flow of blood to the heart and a narrowing of your arteries (vessels that carry blood). Nicotine may also contribute to the
hardening of your arterial walls, which in turn, may lead to you having a heart attack. This substance can stay in your body
for 6 to 8 hours depending on how often you smoke.
Second-Hand Smoke
Smokers aren’t the only ones affected by tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard for nonsmokers,
especially children. Nonsmokers who have high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol have an even greater risk of
developing heart diseases when they’re exposed to secondhand smoke.
Environmental tobacco smoke causes about 46,000 heart disease deaths and 3,400 lung cancer deaths. Studies show that
the risk of developing heart disease is about 25-30 percent higher among people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke
at home or work. Secondhand smoke promotes illness, too. Children of smokers have many more respiratory infections than
do children of nonsmokers. Nonsmoking women exposed to tobacco smoke are also more likely to have low-birth weight
babies.
Many people kick the habit every year, and you can be one of them. It may not be easy, but you
can do it!
especially hypertension. Hypertension is a well-established risk factor not just for
ischemic stroke, but also hemorrhagic stroke. Smoking is a known risk for brain
aneurysm formation and confers a three times higher risk of brain aneurysm rupture.
However, it is also well known that stopping smoking significantly reduces the risk of
stroke. The risk starts to decrease soon after stopping, even in those with smokingrelated symptoms and diseases. In the first three to nine months after stopping, lung
function improves, possibly as much as ten percent. Within one year, the risk of stroke
is cut in half, and is about the same as a non-smoker after five years. Stopping
smoking can be very difficult, and may require the help of a physician. In addition to
strategies and possible medications, they can also provide information on support
groups and how family members can help.
Dr. Matthew Tenser, MD Assistant Professor of Neurological USC & Surgery Endovascular Neurosurgery
OUR OPEN HOUSE WAS A SUCCESS…….
THANK YOU
to everyone that
participated in our open
house event. Special
thank you to Nollie
Agravante for donating
the wine and cheese
platter and Suzanne
Aragon for donating
Asian Nachos. All the
donations made this
evening possible and a
great success.
Cooking: When we start the baking process for all the food we will eat; instead of
butter, substitute equal parts cinnamonflavored, no-sugar-added applesauce. Instead of sugar, use a lower-calorie sugar
substitute. Instead of whole or heavy cream,
substitute low-fat or skim milk. Instead of
using only white flour, use half white and
half whole-wheat flour. Instead of adding
chocolate chips or candies, use dried fruit,
like cranberries or cherries.
Use extracts like vanilla, almond and
peppermint to add flavor, instead of sugar or
butter. When you start to do the cooking you
can use vegetable oils such as olive oil instead of butter. Using herbs and spices, like
rosemary and cloves, to flavor dishes instead of butter and salt can really enhance
your food. Using whole-grain breads and
pastas can lower the carb intake. Baking,
grilling or steaming vegetables instead of
frying is a great idea because you still get
the nutrients from the vegetables but with
less calories.
Drinks: Instead of alcohol in mixed drinks,
use club soda. Instead of adding sugar to
mixed drinks, mix 100-percent juice with
water or use freshly squeezed juice, like
lime. Instead of using heavy cream or whole
milk in dairy-based drinks, use low-fat or
skim milk. Instead of using sugar to sweeten
cider, use spices and fruit, like cinnamon,
cloves and cranberries.
Page 4
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
Warning Signs
for Stroke
Foods that have a variety from the food groups.
Diet and Lifestyle: A healthy diet and lifestyle is the best way to fight cardiovascular
RTH STROKE FOUNDATION
YOUR RISK for stroke doubles in the hour after
drinking beer, wine or liquor. Researchers note,
however, that moderate alcohol consumption (less
Sudden numbness or
than two drinks a day) appears to be protective
weakness of the leg
Sudden confusion or trouble
understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one
or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking,
dizziness, loss of balance or
coordination
Sudden severe headache with
no known cause
over the long-term which may outweigh this tem-
Risk Factors for
Stroke
“The impact of alcohol on your risk of ischemic
disease. Remember, it's the overall pattern of your choices that counts.
Long-term benefits to your health and your heart can make a change for the better with a
High Blood Pressure
few simple steps.
Heart Disease
Be active for at least as many calories as you take in.
Diabetes and High Cholesterol
Start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your
Sleep Apnea
weight. Don’t eat more calories than you know you can burn up every day. Increase the
amount and intensity of your physical activity to match the number of calories you take in if Poor Diet
possible. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week Lack of Exercise
or at least 30 minutes every day (it could be a nice brisk walk). Regular physical activity
TIA’s and Prior Stroke
can help you maintain your weight, keep off weight that you lose and help you reach
Excessive Alcohol Use
physical fitness. If you can’t do at least 30 minutes at one time, you can add up 10-minute
Stress and Depression
sessions throughout the day.
Cigarette Smoking
Eat different nutritious foods from all the food groups.
You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have
vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. To get the nutrients you need, choose foods like vegetables, fruits, whole-grain products and fat-free or low-fat dairy products as often as you can.
Vegetables and fruits are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber — and they’re low in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and
vegetables may help you control your weight and your blood pressure.
Unrefined whole-grain foods contain fiber that can help lower your blood cholesterol and help you feel full, which may help you
manage your weight. Eat fish at least twice a week. Recent research shows that eating oily fish containing omega-3 fatty acids
(for example, salmon, trout, and herring) may help lower your risk of death from coronary artery disease.
Eat less of the nutrient-poor foods.
The right number of calories to eat each day is based on your age and physical activity level and whether you're trying to gain,
lose or maintain your weight. You could use your daily allotment of calories on a few high-calorie foods and beverages, but you
probably wouldn’t get the nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Limit foods and beverages high in calories but low in nutrients, and limit how much saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Read labels carefully — the Nutrition Facts panel will
tell you how much of those nutrients each food or beverage contains.
Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without added saturated and trans fat
Select fat-free, 1 percent fat, and low-fat dairy products
Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet
Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol each day
Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars
Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day
If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man
Follow the AHA recommendations when you eat out, and keep an eye on your portion sizes.
Also, don’t smoke tobacco — and stay away from tobacco smoke.
Page 5
porary rise in immediate risk.
DALLAS, July 15, 2010 — Call it the not-so-happy
hour. The risk of stroke appears to double in the
hour after consuming just one drink — be it wine,
beer or hard liquor — according to a small
study reported in Stroke: Journal of the American
Heart Association.
stroke appears to depend on how much and how
often you drink,” said Murray A. Mittleman, M.D.,
Dr.P.H., senior author of the Stroke Onset Study
Stroke Risk temporarily increases for an hour after drinking alcohol
(SOS) and director of the Cardiovascular
Epidemiology Research Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass.
Prior to the research medical officials didn’t know if alcohol consumption had an immediate impact on ischemic stroke (caused by
a blood clot in a vessel in or leading to the brain), although modest alcohol use (less than two drinks per day) may potentially
lower risk in the long term.
Researchers interviewed 390 ischemic stroke patients (209 men, 181 women) about three days after their stroke regarding many
aspects of their lives. Patients were excluded if the stroke seriously impaired their ability to speak or if they weren’t well enough to
participate. Fourteen patients had consumed alcohol within one hour of stroke onset.
Compared with times when alcohol wasn’t being used, the relative risk of stroke after alcohol consumption was:

2.3 times higher in the first hour

1.6 times higher in the second hour; and
30% lower than the starting point after 24 hours.
The patterns remained the same whether participants had consumed wine, beer or distilled spirits. When the researchers
eliminated patients who had been exposed to other potential triggers (such as exercising vigorously or drinking a caffeinated
beverage) just prior to their strokes, the alcohol connection didn’t change. Only one participant had consumed more than two
drinks in the hour preceding the stroke, and removing that data did not change the outcome.
“The evidence on heavy drinking is consistent: Both in the long and short term it raises stroke risk,” Mittleman said. “But we’re
finding it’s more complicated with light to moderate drinking. It is possible that the transiently increased stroke risk from moderate
alcohol consumption may be outweighed by the longer term health benefits.”
Just after drinking, blood pressure rises and blood platelets become stickier, which may increase the possibility of a clot forming.
However, consistent use of small amounts of alcohol is associated with beneficial changes in blood lipids and more flexible blood
vessels, which may reduce risk overall.
Stroke is the No. 4 killer in the United States and a leading cause of adult long-term major disability according to American Heart
Association statistics.
The American Heart Association recommends that if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. This means no more than two drinks
per day for men and one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12-ounce beer, 4 ounces of wine, 1.5 ounces of 80-proof
spirits, or 1 ounce of 100-proof spirits.) High intakes can be associated with serious adverse effects and may increase
alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity, stroke, breast cancer, suicide and accidents. Consult your doctor on the benefits and
risks of consuming alcohol in moderation.