You may have heard the recent news that cancer is now the leading cause of death in the United States, knocking heart disease down to the second position. But, do you know the third leading cause? It's stroke, and it affects approximately 700,000 Americans every year.
Even when it is not fatal, a stroke can still be extremely debilitating. It is the leading cause of disability among adults, leaving 15 to 30 percent of its victims permanently disabled.
A stroke is an interruption of blood flow to the brain caused by a clot in an artery that feeds the brain. When blood flow is cut off, brain cells cannot get the oxygen and other nutrients they need to survive, and they die. In most stroke cases, the clot forms elsewhere in the body and migrates to the brain; in some cases, the blood clot is in the brain itself.
Stroke is characterized by symptoms that come on very suddenly. These can include numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion or problems talking or understanding speech, difficulty seeing with one or both eyes, difficulty walking, dizziness, or lack of coordination and severe headache.
If you think you are having a stroke, go to the emergency room immediately. Medication known as thrombolytic therapy can dissolve a blood clot and restore blood flow to the brain, but it must be administered within three hours of the start of the stroke. If you suspect that you may be having a stroke, seek emergency help right away. Most of the time, stroke happens without warning. However, about 50,000 people per year experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or “mini-stroke.” Caused by a temporary blockage in an artery, TIA produces the same symptoms as a conventional stroke, but usually resolves within an hour and results in no permanent injury to the brain. However, TIA can be a warning sign of a future stroke; nearly a third of people who have one or more TIAs will have a stroke at some point in the future. TIA cannot predict when the next stroke will occur, but about 25 percent of TIA victims have another stroke within 90 days. Recognizing and treating TIA can reduce your risk of having a full-blown stroke, so get help immediately.
So who is at risk for a stroke? While anyone is susceptible to stroke, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk. Among these are high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, carotid artery disease, age and family history.
While age and background can not be changed, there are steps you can take to reduce risks related to medical and lifestyle factors. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, aspirin or other medications may help reduce your risk. If you have diabetes, be sure to manage your blood sugar levels.
Stroke can be a severe, debilitating event, but with careful risk management and lifestyle changes, the risk can be reduced. Ask your physician if you are at increased risk for stroke, and how you can keep your risk low.
Thomas Chippendale, M.D. Ph.D., is a neurologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. This information is provided by Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, for physician referral please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.
Even when it is not fatal, a stroke can still be extremely debilitating. It is the leading cause of disability among adults, leaving 15 to 30 percent of its victims permanently disabled.
A stroke is an interruption of blood flow to the brain caused by a clot in an artery that feeds the brain. When blood flow is cut off, brain cells cannot get the oxygen and other nutrients they need to survive, and they die. In most stroke cases, the clot forms elsewhere in the body and migrates to the brain; in some cases, the blood clot is in the brain itself.
Stroke is characterized by symptoms that come on very suddenly. These can include numbness or weakness on one side of the body, confusion or problems talking or understanding speech, difficulty seeing with one or both eyes, difficulty walking, dizziness, or lack of coordination and severe headache.
If you think you are having a stroke, go to the emergency room immediately. Medication known as thrombolytic therapy can dissolve a blood clot and restore blood flow to the brain, but it must be administered within three hours of the start of the stroke. If you suspect that you may be having a stroke, seek emergency help right away. Most of the time, stroke happens without warning. However, about 50,000 people per year experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or “mini-stroke.” Caused by a temporary blockage in an artery, TIA produces the same symptoms as a conventional stroke, but usually resolves within an hour and results in no permanent injury to the brain. However, TIA can be a warning sign of a future stroke; nearly a third of people who have one or more TIAs will have a stroke at some point in the future. TIA cannot predict when the next stroke will occur, but about 25 percent of TIA victims have another stroke within 90 days. Recognizing and treating TIA can reduce your risk of having a full-blown stroke, so get help immediately.
So who is at risk for a stroke? While anyone is susceptible to stroke, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk. Among these are high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, carotid artery disease, age and family history.
While age and background can not be changed, there are steps you can take to reduce risks related to medical and lifestyle factors. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, aspirin or other medications may help reduce your risk. If you have diabetes, be sure to manage your blood sugar levels.
Stroke can be a severe, debilitating event, but with careful risk management and lifestyle changes, the risk can be reduced. Ask your physician if you are at increased risk for stroke, and how you can keep your risk low.
Thomas Chippendale, M.D. Ph.D., is a neurologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas. This information is provided by Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, for physician referral please call 1-800-SCRIPPS.