STROKE

More than a million stroke survivors suffer little or no long-lasting disability from their strokes. Another two million however, live with the crippling and lifelong disabilities of paralysis, loss of speech, and poor memory.

What is a Stroke?

A stroke, or "brain attack," occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from decreased blood flow and the resulting lack of oxygen. There are two broad categories of stroke: those caused by a blockage of blood flow and those caused by bleeding. While not usually fatal, a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain or neck, called an ischemic stroke, is the most frequent cause of stroke and is responsible for about 80 percent of strokes. These blockages stem from three conditions:

• The formation of a clot within a blood vessel of the brain or neck, called thrombosis.

• The movement of a clot from another part of the body such as the heart to the neck or brain, called embolism.

• A severe narrowing of an artery in or leading to the brain, called stenosis.

Bleeding into the brain or the spaces surrounding the brain causes the second type of stroke, called hemorrhagic stroke.

What are Warning Signs of a Stroke?

Warning signs are clues your body sends that your brain is not receiving enough oxygen. If you observe one or more of these signs of a stroke or "brain attack," DON’T WAIT, call a doctor or 911 right away!

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg.

• Sudden dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye.

• Sudden difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech.

• Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

• Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, especially with any of the other signs.

Other danger signs that may occur include double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting. Sometimes the warning signs may last only a few moments and then disappear. These brief episodes, known as transient ischemic attacks or TIAs, are sometimes called "mini-strokes." Although brief, they identify an underlying serious condition that isn't going away without medical help. Unfortunately, since they clear up, many people ignore them. Don't. Heeding them can save your life.

What are Risk Factors for a Stroke?

Stroke occurs in all age groups, in both sexes, and in all races in every country. It can even occur before birth, when the fetus is still in the womb. In African-Americans, the death rate from stroke is almost twice that of the white population. Scientists have found more and more severe risk factors in some minority groups and continue to look for patterns of stroke in these groups.

Warning signs or history of stroke. If you experience a TIA, get help at once. Many communities encourage those with stroke's warning signs to dial 911 for emergency medical assistance. If you have had a stroke in the past, it's important to reduce your risk of a second stroke. Your brain helps you recover from a stroke by drawing on body systems that now do double duty. That means a second stroke can be twice as bad.

Diabetes. You may think this disorder affects only the body's ability to use sugar, or glucose. But it also causes destructive changes in the blood vessels throughout the body, including the brain. Also, if blood glucose levels are high at the time of a stroke, then brain damage is usually more severe and extensive than when blood glucose is well-controlled. Treating diabetes can delay the onset of complications that increase the risk of stroke.

Do You Know Your Stroke Risk?

Many risk factors for stroke can be managed, some very successfully. Although risk is never zero at any age, by starting early and controlling your risk factors, which include regular activity, low-fat diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and controlling  blood pressure, you can lower your risk of death or disability from stroke. With good control, the risk of stroke in most age groups can be kept below that for accidental injury or death.   In fact, understanding the causes of stroke has helped Americans make lifestyle changes that have cut the stroke death rate nearly in half in the last two decades.

This information is to be used only for educational purposes.  If you have questions regarding your treatment or diagnosis, please see your physician.