Strokes can be devastating. Knowing your risk factors can help in preventing a stroke. Being able to identify the signs and symptoms of a stroke will enable you to get immediate medical attention.
Having a stroke twenty years ago meant the end of your ability to care for yourself. It was a word that made the strongest of people cringe. Today, strokes are more understood. Having a stroke doesn’t have to mean the end of the road. Knowing the risk factors and how to prevent a stroke are the first steps to a healthy future. Knowing the signs and symptoms and what to do if you or a family member has one can make the journey to recovery a little smoother.
What Is A Stroke?
Now called “brain attacks,” strokes basically happen two different ways. Most usually a stroke occurs when a blood clot breaks off from a blood vessel and lodges in a vessel or artery that delivers blood to your brain. A stroke can also occur when a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to your brain.
When the blood flow to your brain is interrupted, the affected area has no oxygen (blood carries oxygen). Brain cells die quickly without oxygen. Over time (a matter of minutes or hours) more and more brain cells die causing the effects of the stroke to worsen. The area where the brain cells die is lost. Different areas of the brain control different functions of the body. The part of the brain that the stroke occurs in will lose the ability to do what it is supposed to do.
A stroke in the right side of the brain can cause paralysis on the left side of the body. This is also referred to as hemiplegia. The right side of the brain also controls our perception of distance and our judgment. These people are sometimes not aware of their impairment and/or try to do things they did before that they are not aware they can no longer do without assistance (like walk). Short term memory can also be affected.
A left hemisphere stroke affects the right side of the body (right hemiplegia). This side of the brain is our language center. Difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word results from left brain stroke. Memory problems occur with a left brain stroke also.
Another term you will here in reference to a stroke is “TIA.” Some professionals call TIA’s “mini-strokes”. A TIA is not a stroke but stroke-like symptoms of a short duration. TIA’s can be warning signs of a stroke.
Signs & Symptoms
Stroke symptoms can be pronounced or vague. Any combination or severity of the following list of symptoms requires immediate medical attention. Unfortunately, many people wait because they are having mild symptoms or vague feelings that something isn’t quite right. They prolong contacting their doctor in hope the symptoms will go away. Precious time is lost and the stroke either worsens or is not treatable.
Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially if on one side of the body
Confusion
Difficulty speaking or understanding what is being said
Visual difficulty
Difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Severe headache
Any of the symptoms listed above warrant a 911 call! Strokes are emergencies! When having a stroke the goal is for the patient to get to the emergency department within one to three hours of the start of their symptoms. There is medication that will help dissolve the clot that is causing the stroke. The old belief that nothing can be done no longer holds true. The sooner a person gets medical help the better the outcome can be.
Risk Factors
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Every year more than 750,000 Americans have a stroke. One third of these are under the age of 65. 160,000 people die from stroke each year.
Given these statistics, it is important to know what your risk factors are and what you can do to decrease your chances of having a stroke. Some risk factors can not be changed, but there are some changes you can make that will significantly reduce the chance of stroke.
Carotid Artery Disease- Commonly called CAD or atherosclerosis, fatty deposits or plaques in your carotid arteries (arteries in your neck) decreases or restricts blood flow to your brain. The artery loses its elasticity and hardens. The plaques are made of fatty tissue, cholesterol and calcium. Many times, a certain sound in your neck alerts the doctor that you may have CAD. When they put the stethoscope up to your neck, they are listening for this sound.
Atrial Fibrillation- Commonly called A-fib. Instead of the atrium (top chamber) of your heart beating like it is supposed to, it quivers. When this happens blood pools and can form clots. The clot can break off, enter your blood stream and lodge in an artery, causing a stroke.
Heart Disease- More than 2 heart attacks, congenital defects and heart valve disease can increase the risk of stroke.
TIA’s- TIA’s are warning signs of a stroke.
Blood Disorders- Blood disorders that result in an increase in red blood cells can increase your risk for stroke. Sickle cell anemia is also a risk factor.
Age- The older we get the more risk we have of having a stroke.
Sex- More females have strokes than males.
Race- More African Americans have strokes than any other race.
Family History- Strokes run in families. This may be due to many factors. High blood pressure and cholesterol run in families. Obesity runs in families but can also be because of a learned lifestyle. Many risk factors fall into this group. Is the cholesterol high because it runs in the family or because the family members have learned to eat high cholesterol foods?
Prior Stroke- Once you have a stroke the chances of having another increase.
There are some risk factors you can do something about. Changing your lifestyle can decrease the chances of stroke tremendously.
Smoking- Quitting today will rapidly cut your chances of having a stroke in half. Smoking narrows the blood vessels allowing fatty deposits and plaque to build up easier.
Obesity- Talk to your doctor about a good nutritional plan for permanent weight loss. Losing weight can decrease your chance of having a stroke.
Alcohol- Drinking too much alcohol is hard on every system in your body. Drinking one alcoholic beverage a day is not going to hurt you, but if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you do, cutting back or quitting will reduce your chances of stroke.
Diabetes- Keeping your blood sugar under control is a major factor in stroke prevention. Work with your doctor to ensure that you are on the medication that you need. Eat nutritious meals. See a dietitian to help you choose the foods that are best to help control your blood sugar.
Sedentary Lifestyle- Exercising just 30 minutes a day will improve your cardiovascular system, hence decreasing your risk of stroke.
Sodium & Fat- Lowering cholesterol levels and sodium (salt) levels will help prevent high blood pressure. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the measurement of the amount of force on your blood vessels. It is called the “silent killer” because there are not usually symptoms of high blood pressure. If left untreated, it can lead to stroke.
Recovery
Anyone can have a stroke. This author’s sister had a stroke at the age of 24. Although older people generally have strokes it is not uncommon for men and women in their thirties, forties or fifties to have strokes. Reducing your risk factors can significantly decrease your chance of having a stroke.
If you or someone close to you has a stroke, there is an abundance of information to help support and inform you. Listed at the end of this article are web pages that offer information in all aspects of stroke prevention and care.
Many patients have a good chance of regaining part or all of their ability to function. Finding a good rehabilitation facility can aid in the progress and final outcome of a stroke patient. Patients can recover for years. Rehab facilities help patients learn to cope with daily living tasks such as dressing, bathing and eating.
Depression is a common after effect of most stroke patients. Proper diagnosis and treatment of depression will help with the recovery and motivation of the stroke patient. Being aware of the possibility of depression can help you in alerting your medical care professional.
The challenges of an altered lifestyle are numerous after having a stroke. Confusion and memory problems only add to the person’s frustration. Communication difficulties pose “needs based” challenges for the patient and the caregiver, since the patient tries to communicate his needs or interpret what is being said without success.
When there is an inability to dress or feed oneself self esteem is compromised. Once independence is lost keeping the stroke victim’s spirits up can be a daily challenge. If you are the caregiver of a stroke patient, taking time off will help with your motivation and spirit. A tired caregiver who gets little time off only becomes frustrated and depressed too.
It’s important to know the signs of a stroke so medical attention can be sought immediately. Knowing the risk factors and what you can do to prevent a stroke can help you decrease the chances of having one. If someone you know has had a stroke having information about what to expect and what the patient is experiencing can help in the care and recovery of the patient.