STHS Raising Stroke Awareness Through Its Annual Steps For Stroke Challenge

The 50,000-step challenge is aimed at promoting regular physical activity, which helps prevent strokes

While walking may be a low impact and low intensity exercise that requires no special equipment, it provides the body with enormous health benefits. According to the American Stroke Association, walking at a lively pace for 150 minutes a week can help improve mood, energy, sleep, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol levels and stamina – all while reducing one’s risk for stroke and heart disease.

To challenge and encourage the people of the Rio Grande Valley to get active and avoid future potential health complications, South Texas Health System hosts an annual community competition, Steps for Stroke. The week-long challenge, held during National Stroke Awareness Month, helps raise awareness for the warning signs and risk factors for stroke and encourages stroke prevention, including regular physical activity, by having participants commit to walking, jogging, running or even dancing for a minimum of 10,000 steps per day.

Beyond the challenges’ minimum 10,000 steps a day, participants in various categories will are recognized for most steps accrued — as logged by participants on the official event page — at a later ceremony. This year’s Steps for Stroke challenge will run from May 21 through 27 and will kick off with a pep rally at South Texas Health System McAllen, featuring stories from stroke survivors and aerobic activities.

Online registration is currently open on www.sthsactive.com up through the challenge’s official kickoff on Saturday, May 21, with a discounted rate of $25 for early registration before May 2. The cost of registration includes a t-shirt and participation medal (not guaranteed for late registrants), with all proceeds benefiting a local charity providing stroke education in the community. Packet pickup will take place during the rally.

For more information, contact STHS Event Planner and Heroes with Heart Challenge Coordinator Kassandra Rodriguez at 956-388-2020 or [email protected].

About South Texas Health System 

South Texas Health System is a multi-facility healthcare system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four acute care facility campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Inpatient and outpatient treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system’s South Texas Health System Behavioral facility. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level II Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only freestanding children’s facility and pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, the region’s only freestanding heart hospital and specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information about the system and its comprehensive services, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.

Physicians are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians.

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