Health Care Professionals Offer Free Consultations for National Stroke Awareness Month

For the 22nd consecutive year, May 2009 has been designated Stroke Awareness Month. During this thirty-one day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stroke epidemic. Sponsored by The National Stroke Association, a non-profit health education organization, Stroke Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to raise public awareness about the full continuum of stroke by managing stroke risk factors, facilitating better understanding of stroke symptom recognition and response and improving the quality of life during stroke recovery for millions of stroke survivors in the United States.

"Even though we've learned a lot about strokes in the past twenty years," says Ann Marie Amicarelli, a hypnotherapist specializing in health related issues, "Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America. It causes many people to become disabled each year. Up to 80% of strokes can be prevented. Each one of us can prevent a stroke by being responsible for the lifestyle choices we make. There are many effective techniques available that could help millions of Americans stop suffering. For instance, the risk factor of smoking damages blood vessels, raises blood pressure and makes the smoker's heart work very hard. Research has shown that smoking doubles the risk of stroke. Women need to be extremely careful. If a woman smokes, has a history of migraines, and takes birth control pills, her stroke risk is increased as much as 34 times. If you stop smoking today, you can significantly reduce your risk of stroke. Quitting smoking is an important step to living a longer, healthier life."

As part of an effort by leading health care organizations across the country to disseminate helpful educational materials and other information about strokes during the month of May, Amicarelli is offering free Stroke Education consultations and group workshops at her Smoking Cessation program locations. Amicarelli is an affiliate of Healthy Life Centers, a national network of providers that specialize in helping smokers that want to quit the habit. She offers free nationwide smoking cessation referrals by visiting Healthy Life Centers Referral Site.

For additional information on stroke prevention and smoking cessation, contact Ann Marie Amicarelli or visit The Smoking Cessation Program at the Marriage Center

Amicarelli is a certified hypnotherapist and relationship counselor with over 17 years of experience in helping individuals and families to improve their health and reach their full potential. She specializes in individual and corporate consultations for health and wellness issues.

Smoking is a very bad habit that not only harms the smokers but also harms others' health. All is driven by the damned money. The entire world is suffering from people's bad habits.