YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- A Youngstown native and stroke survivor is using her voice to help others.
Former Youngstown Parks and Recreation Director Dawn Turnage has spent the years following her stroke to share her story, hoping to help others from experiencing heart problems. She has partnered with the American Heart Association as a volunteer, and most recently has helped co-author the latest stroke prevention guidelines.
She had a mini-stroke in 2015. Her niece who was a toddler at the time was the one who caught her aunt making faces. Dawn was having symptoms and was playing them down to be something else. Thanks to her niece and sister her who works in the medical field and knew what to look for, Dawn was able to get treatment, becoming a survivor.
The updated recommendations outline ways you can prevent a first stroke. It includes lifestyle changes like good nutrition, stopping smoking, and routine health screenings. The most important thing is adding emphasis on patients advocating for themselves.
“When you go to the doctor, don’t be afraid to ask questions, be fierce with your voice is what I always say, and take someone with you if need be. so they too could possibly ask me the questions or even then also get the services that they need. Maybe they have some questions about their own health, like a buddy system,” said Turnage.
Dawn says it was important the new guidelines included language that was understandable.
“It was challenging at first, you know, the words, the big words and all of that. but the patients that they had and the training that they provide you as far as defining what large words are and wanting to know, hey, do you think that a patient will understand this and them listening to me and listening to having a voice of other patients that not only look like me but also are going through having that lack of having access to medical. That was very important for me, too,” Turnage said.
The new guidelines were released back in October.
If you have any concerns that you could be at risk for heart problems or stroke, you should talk to your doctor.
