The Iowa Department of Public Health was happy to find the state in the minority following a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the number of deaths from strokes nationwide.  D-P-H Health Systems Coordinator Terry Meek says the numbers in most states increased or held steady in the report — but not in Iowa.

 

Meek says the biggest factor in Iowa’s ability to lower stroke deaths is linked to money it received from the C-D-C.

 

That targeted program included education that highlighted the signs and symptoms of a stroke, and encouraged people to immediately call 9-1-1 at the first signs of stroke.

Meek says the state also developed the Iowa Stroke Registry with the University of Iowa to help track what is going on.