May is Stroke Awareness Month

Here is a great article about strokes!


Stroke Awareness

By Jeffrey S. Eisenberg

Each year, an estimated 795,000 people in the United States suffer stroke. Of these, 610,000 are first or new strokes, and 136,000 strokes resulted in death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indeed, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and is the leading cause of long-term disability.

Although individuals cannot control some risk factors, some risk factors they can modify others. “Because so many of the condition's risk factors can be minimized by personal effort, public awareness is the key weapon in conquering stroke,” said President George H.W. Bush in 1989, when he issued Proclamation 5975 declaring May National Stroke Awareness month.

To help enhance awareness, here are some questions you may have about strokes, including risk factors, warning signs and prevention.

1. What causes stroke?

Simply defined, stroke is an attack, of sorts, on the brain. Damage results from two possible circumstances: Blood vessels may become blocked due to blood clots or build-up of plaque and other fatty acids (ischemic stroke). Or, a blood vessel may burst, causing blood to leak into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).
Ischemic strokes account for 87% of all strokes, but hemorrhagic strokes are responsible for 30% of all stroke deaths, according to the National Stroke Association.

2. What is my risk for stroke?

Your risk of stroke depends on several factors. These include:

Age. Nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people aged 65 years or older, with the chances of having a stroke doubling each decade after the age of 55, according to the CDC. Even so, stroke can occur at any age, with nearly 25% occurring in people younger than 27.
Gender. Each year, about 55,000 more women than men have strokes, according to the National Stroke Association, although incidence at younger ages is higher in men than women.
Race. Stroke death rates are twice as high for African Americans than for whites, even at younger ages, according to the CDC. Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations also are at higher risk of stroke than whites.
Family history of stroke. Every family member of someone who has had a stroke is at increased risk of stroke.
High blood pressure. Several studies have found hypertension to be the most prevalent and modifiable risk factor for stroke.
Elevated cholesterol.
Lifestyle. This includes smoking, alcohol use, exercise and diet.
Diabetes. The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes. In 2004, stroke was noted on 16% of diabetes-related death certificates among people aged 65 years or older.
Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). Atrial fibrillation is responsible for 15% to 20% of ischemic strokes. Atrial fibrillation increases one’s risk of suffering an ischemic stroke by five times, according to a report from the American Heart Association.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack). The incidence of ischemic stroke is approximately 1% to 2% per year after MI, with the greatest risk occurring in the first month after the MI, according to reports cited in guidelines from the National Stroke Association.
Keep in mind, too, that your stroke risk can change as you age. Consider: The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study from Northwestern University that shows your risk for stroke as a young or middle-aged adult may be low, but in the long term may become very high. For example, the researchers found that 45-year-old men who have all risk factors well controlled have less than a 2% risk of having a heart attack or stroke in their lifetime. Add one or two more risk factors, and the risk jumps to 50%. A 45-year-old woman with low risk factors has a 4% chance of having a heart attack stroke, but add one or two risk factors, her chances increase 31%.

3. Can I reduce my risk of developing a stroke

Yes. “A lot of [prevention] is behavioral change, living a reasonably good lifestyle, “said Joseph P. Broderick, MD, professor and chair department of the University of Cincinnati’s Neuroscience Institute and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. Although you cannot control for such risk factors as age, gender, race and family history, they can modify many other risk factors.

To decrease stroke risk, Dr. Broderick says, you may need to make lifestyle changes and treat underlying medical conditions. This includes losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising more and increasing your consumption of fruit and vegetables. Under the care of your doctor, you need to closely monitor and control high blood pressure and diabetes and, if necessary, take medication to control atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Broderick also recommends regular screenings for blood pressure and cholesterol.

4. What are the warning signs of an impending stroke?

Common stroke symptoms include sudden Numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg – especially on one side of the body. You might have trouble speaking or understanding, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness or loss of balance or coordination; Or, you may experience a severe headache with no known cause.

If your doctor suspects a blockage or if you experience stroke symptoms temporarily, known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA), or mini-stroke, he or she may refer you for an ultrasound of the carotid artery for confirmation, Dr. Broderick says

If you suspect you or someone you know is having a stroke, Dr. Broderick and others suggest you use the FAST test. FAST stands for:

Face. Can the patient smile, or does one side of the face droop?
Arms. Can the patient raise both arms, or does one arm drift downward?
Speech. Can the person repeat a simple sentence, or is speech slurred?
Time. If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital. “Treatments are most effective the earlier they are given,” Dr. Broderick says.