Striking out strokes

Each year approximately one-half million Americans suffer from cerebral vascular accidents, or strokes. Also known as "brain attacks," strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States and they are the leading cause of long-term adult disability as well.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a sudden interruption in the blood flow in the brain, typically caused by some type of clot blocking an artery supplying the brain (these are called ischemic strokes) or by the rupture of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic strokes), causing blood to leak into the brain, causing tissue death.

More than 4 million survivors are alive today. With medical care and rehabilitation, most will able to recover some, if not all of their mental and physical functioning.

Some stroke risk factors:

According to Devin Wallace, education director of the Stroke Association of Southern California, although a stroke can occur at any age (30% of those who suffer a stroke are under the age of 65), the risks go up dramatically in the older years. Individuals with hypertension have the greatest risk. Those with diabetes and some forms of heart disease, and smokers (especially women on high-estrogen oral contraceptives) have increased risks of having strokes in their lifetime. Those who have already had a stroke and those who have mini-strokes, called transient ischemic attacks, or TIA’s are much more likely to have another one. Males have more strokes than females and African Americans have twice as many than whites do.

Researchers have found that few people, especially those at risk, know their risk factors. We need to be more aware of the warning signs that a stroke has started and is in progress. Here's a list of stroke warning signs:

▪ Sudden, severe headache
▪ Difficulty with speaking or understanding
▪ Sudden changes or loss of vision
▪ Numbness or weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, or one side of the body
▪ Dizziness, unsteadiness or falls

If you or someone with you experiences any of these symptoms, particularly of sudden onset and especially if more than two are present at the same time, call 911. Anyone who has a family history of strokes or is at risk should have a stroke management plan, in much the same way that a pregnant couple should have a plan for getting to the hospital when the baby is due.

What can we do to reduce or eliminate strokes?

Keeping blood pressure under control, managing sugar intake, eating a low fat, low sodium diet, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and exercising can really change the odds back in your favor. A regular medical check-up, screening for risk factors and making a plan of action is essential for all older adults. There is a critical time period for starting treatment following a stroke, when clot-dissolving medications can sometimes be effectively used. At least one source recommends that you call an ambulance rather than drive yourself (or with someone) because such cases are typically seen sooner by the emergency room team.

Readers wanting more information can visit the Southern California Stroke Association website at www.strokesocal.org.

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