Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the country. According
to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it
causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease.
There
are new treatments that greatly reduce the damage caused by stroke but
that treatment needs to be administered - fast. The window of
opportunity to start treating stroke patients is three hours. But a
person needs to be at the hospital within 60 minutes of having stroke to
be evaluated and receive treatment. The sooner the patient arrives at
the hospital, the better chance they have at preventing disability. That
is why it's important for people of all ages to know stroke warning
signs and what to do in case of this emergency.
A stroke is often
referred to as a "brain attack". It occurs when blood flow to the brain
is stopped - due to a blockage by a clot. The brain cells in the
immediate area begin to die because they stop getting the oxygen and
nutrients they need to function.
There are two kinds of stroke.
The most common kind of stroke, called ischemic stroke, is caused by a
blood clot that blocks or plugs a blood vessel in the brain. The other
kind of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke, is caused by a blood vessel
that breaks and bleeds into the brain.
The most common symptoms are:
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Remember,
the person suffering a stroke may not realize it's happening to them or
they may not be able to tell you that they need help. So it's important that you recognize the symptoms and know to call 911 - immediately. While
majority of stroke victims are over the age of 65, a quarter of
patients are younger. For African Americans, stroke is more common and
more deadly, even in young and middle-aged adults. And while family
history does play a role in your risk, there are many risk factors you
can control.
- If you have high blood pressure, work with your
doctor to get it under control. Many people do not realize they have
high blood pressure, which usually produces no symptoms but is a major
risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Managing your high blood
pressure is the most important thing you can do to avoid stroke.
- If you smoke, quit.
-
If you have diabetes, learn how to manage it. As with high blood
pressure, diabetes usually causes no symptoms but it increases the
chance of stroke.
- If you are overweight, start maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Talk
to your doctor about your personal risk factors for having a stroke.
Remember to check with him or her before taking any treatment or medical
remedy.
For more information on stroke treatment and prevention