CINCINNATI — Ohio has the highest increase in the nation in the amount of stroke cases according to a new report from the CDC, but doctors in Cincinnati are doing something about it. They're studying treatments and warning about the symptoms that can help people survive. 

What You Need To Know

  • It shows a more than 20% increase in the last decade
  • Doctors at UC Health in Cincinnati have been using break through treatments to help and are using a mobile stroke unit to respond faster 

  • Doctors are also warning to check for signs and symptoms like drooping face and slurred speech. 

For Tracey Yaegel, her wedding ring is a reminder of a night she never imagined. 

“I got up to use the restroom and then next thing I know, I was on the bathroom floor. My husband found me and called the ambulance,” said Yaegel. 

Doctors told her she was having a major stroke.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was actually shocked,” said Yaegel. 

She got to the hospital, at UC health in Cincinnati just in time for a procedure that saved her life but she said the three years since hasn’t been easy.

“A lot of my left side was affected, so I had to learn how to talk again, walk again,” said Yaegel, “I couldn’t wear my wedding ring. I couldn’t get my nails done. I couldn’t do any of that stuff,” she said. 

She’s not alone.

“We see strokes a lot. In fact, in this area we have about 3000 strokes a year,” said Dr. Joe Broderick, Professor of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.

A recent report from the CDC shows Ohio is leading the nation in the growth of stroke cases. There’s a more than 20% in the last decade, but Broderick says they’re doing something about it.

“We actually were the center that developed the first medical treatment for stroke back in the in the early 1990s called TPA and we use a medicine, either TPA or a medicine like it called TNK to help open up blocked arteries,” said Broderick.

On top of treatments, doctors are responding faster with a mobile stroke unit, but he said there’s something you can do to before it gets to that point.

“That means there’s also more work we need to do, particularly in the young and middle age population. For those things like high blood pressure, diabetes, risk of being overweight, smoking, all those things that we can do better at,” said Broderick.

They’re all things that he said can be risk factors for a stroke. He also says to be aware of symptoms like a drooping face, weak arms, and slurred speech.

It’s what happened to Yaegel when she was having a stroke, and survived.

“It took me a long time to be able to wear this wedding ring… a long time, but it’s awesome to be able to do all these little things you love,” said Yaegel.

If you or someone you know needs help from a stroke, click here.