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May Is Stroke Awareness Month. What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk?

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 May 2006, 15:00 CDT

NEW YORK, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- THIS IS A MULTIVU SPECIAL REPORT. MAY IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH. EACH YEAR AN ESTIMATED 700,000 AMERICANS HAVE A STROKE.1 OF THESE, 200,000 ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD A STROKE. MOST STROKES OCCUR WHEN A BLOOD VESSEL THAT CARRIES OXYGEN AND NUTRIENTS TO THE BRAIN IS BLOCKED BY A CLOT, AFFECTING THE ARTERIES LEADING TO AND WITHIN THE BRAIN.4 WHILE STROKE SURVIVORSHIP IS ON THE RISE,3 A LOT CAN STILL BE DONE TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STROKE IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE.

DR. MARK ALBERTS, DIRECTOR, STROKE PROGRAM, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL:

"If you've had a stroke, it is critical to understand the steps that can help reduce the risk of another stroke, including lifestyle changes, antiplatelet therapy such as Plavix(R) also known as (clopidogrel bisulfate) or aspirin and other medicines as prescribed by your doctor."

FOR INFORMATION ON STROKE, VISIT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AT AMERICANHEART.ORG.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR STROKE RISK IF YOU HAVE ALREADY HAD A STROKE, VISIT PLAVIX.COM.

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IF YOU HAVE A STOMACH ULCER OR OTHER CONDITION THAT CAUSES BLEEDING, YOU SHOULDN'T USE PLAVIX. WHEN TAKING PLAVIX ALONE OR WITH SOME MEDICINES INCLUDING ASPIRIN, THE RISK OF BLEEDING MAY INCREASE. TO MINIMIZE THIS RISK, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING ASPIRIN OR OTHER MEDICINES WITH PLAVIX. ADDITIONAL RARE BUT SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS COULD OCCUR. PLEASE SEE FULL PRESCRIBING INFORMATION BY VISITING WWW.PLAVIX.COM.

*THIS SEGMENT WAS PREPARED BY THE BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB/SANOFI PHARMACEUTICALS PARTNERSHIP.

**DR. MARK ALBERTS IS A CONSULTANT FOR THE BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB/SANOFI PHARMACEUTICALS PARTNERSHIP.

I'M CHRISTIANE ARBESU. WHO SHOULD RECEIVE Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate)?5

PLAVIX is indicated for the reduction of atherothrombotic events as follows:

* Recent Myocardial Infarction (MI), Recent Stroke, or Established Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

For patients with a history of recent MI, recent stroke, or established PAD, PLAVIX has been shown to reduce the rate of a combined end point of new ischemic stroke (fatal or not), new MI (fatal or not), and other vascular death.

* Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

For patients with ACS (unstable angina/non-Q-wave MI), including patients who are to be managed medically and those who are to be managed with percutaneous coronary intervention (with or without stent) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), PLAVIX has been shown to decrease the rate of a combined end point of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke as well as the rate of a combined end point of cardiovascular death, MI, stroke, or refractory ischemia.

Important Risk Information

* PLAVIX is contraindicated in patients with active pathologic bleeding such as peptic ulcer or intracranial hemorrhage. PLAVIX should be used with caution in patients who may be at risk of increased bleeding from trauma, surgery, or coadministration with NSAIDs or warfarin. (See CONTRAINDICATIONS and PRECAUTIONS.*)

* The rates of major and minor bleeding were higher in patients treated with PLAVIX plus aspirin compared with placebo plus aspirin in a clinical trial. (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)

* As part of the worldwide post marketing experience with PLAVIX, there have been cases of reported thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), some with fatal outcome. TTP has been reported rarely following use of PLAVIX, sometimes after a short exposure (<2 weeks). TTP is a serious condition that can be fatal and requires urgent treatment including plasmapheresis (plasma exchange). (See WARNINGS.*)

* In clinical trials, the most common clinically important side effects were pruritus, purpura, diarrhea, and rash; infrequent events included intracranial hemorrhage (0.4%) and severe neutropenia (0.05%). (See ADVERSE REACTIONS.*)

*Please see full prescribing information by visiting http://www.plavix.com/. References:

1 American Stroke Association. Impact of Stroke. http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1033. Accessed March 28, 2006.

2 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. NINDS Stroke Information Page. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm. Accessed April 3, 2006.

3 American Heart Association. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2006 Update.

http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.171600v1. Accessed March 28, 2006.

4 American Stroke Association. What is Stroke? http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3030066. Accessed March 28, 2006.

5 Plavix(R) (clopidogrel bisulfate) Prescribing Information. Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc.

AUDIO PROVIDED BY: Sanofi-Synthelabo and Bristol-Myers Squibb

Audio: http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/24312/consumer.html

Sanofi-Synthelabo and Bristol-Myers Squibb

CONTACT: FOR STORY INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: MultiVu Media Relations,1-800-653-5313, EXT. 3 OR EMAIL RADIO@MULTIVU.COM

Web site: http://www.plavix.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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