What You Need to Know to Prevent a Stroke

Less than six months ago, I lost a good friend, suddenly, to a massive hemorrhagic stroke. In an instant, she lost her ability to speak and we lost a committed community member.

It made me think about what causes a stroke, and if prevention techniques exist. Since May is National Stroke Awareness Month, it felt like the right time to find out.

Residents of Pinellas County have access many hospitals nearby that treat stroke. That’s good news, because early intervention, even of suspected strokes, is the key to successful treatment and recovery.

I did a little digging and learned that each year, 425,000 women have strokes (55,000 more than men), Stroke is also a leading cause of death for Hispanic women, according to a recent study by www.healthywomen.org, the National Stroke Association and the American College of Emergency Physicians .

In a normal brain, blood flows freely. However, a stroke occurs when the flow is disrupted. That's why you may hear a strokes referred to as a “brain attack”.

Strokes may be caused by a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of blood vessels, causing them to narrow or harden, making them more likely to become blocked by clots. Obstructed arteries prevent portions of the brain from getting the appropriate amount of blood and oxygen they need. Symptoms listed below, may be signs of impending stroke, as well as other serious health problem:

• a sudden and severe headache
• difficulty walking, or maintaining balance
• difficulty speaking, or understanding speech
• fainting or unconsciousness
• numbness or tingling
• weakness on one or both sides of the body

A Serious Matter

Stroke Risk Factors and Symptoms can increase your chances of having a stroke. These span the range from high cholesterol, to hypertension, genetic pre-disposition, atherosclerosis, diabetes and high blood pressure. Smokers are also at an increased risk.

In women, the use of certain oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy and polycystic ovary syndrome can also increase risk factors. So can pregnancy and menopause.

Patients who have already had a stroke are also at a greater risk for recurrence. The risk of recurrence is greatest soon after a stroke. According to the National Institutes of Health, about three percent of stroke patients will have another stroke within 30 days of their first one.

Most strokes occur when a blood clot forms in a brain artery, blocking good blood flow. This is called a thrombotic stroke. When clots form in places other than the brain, they are known as embolytic clots.

Often, patients experience transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), before the actual stroke occurs. Referred to as “mini strokes” the symptoms are the same. However, patients sometimes ignore the warning signs, because symptoms disappear quickly. When a TIA occurs, the blood supply to the brain is shut off for a short time. While they may not cause permanent damage, research shows one person in four who has a TIA, will have a stroke within five years. It also shows that if you have a stroke, you are more likely to have another one.

There are also hemorrhagic strokes, caused by bleeding in the brain. These are very serious, and often deadly. They are often caused by chronic high blood pressure, which can weaken the arteries in our brains, but may also be caused by a brain aneurysm. The effects of a stroke are wide-ranging and dependent upon on which part of the brain is injured -- and how severely.

Prevention:

In general, treating other medical conditions can help prevent a stroke. If you have a hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis your physician may recommend taking aspirin daily, or may prescribe cholesterol-lowering medication.

Recommendations from experts at the National Institutes for Health, the World Health Organization and various cardiovascular and pulmonary health centers around the country, include tips that resonate with those  living well:

• being aware of risk factors and establishing a treatment program, monitored by a physician   
• controlling high blood pressure through diet, exercise and medication, if necessary
• limiting alcohol intake 
• limiting salt intake
• maintaining a healthy weight and increasing physical activity that increases your heart rate 30 minutes per day, five times per week
• monitoring and controlling diabetes and blood sugar levels
• quitting tobacco use
• treating high cholesterol and coronary artery disease

Nutrition, healthy eating and a daily program of aerobic exercise and stress  reduction, are optimal ways to combat high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Nutritionists recommend eating five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, reducing any trans fats in your diet, and including a balance of lean protein, pastas and breads made from whole grains. Eating more healthy fats -- through olive oil, fish oils, flax seeds, or avocados, restricting sugar intake and exercising, are vitally important steps toward prevention of most strokes.

Seeking the advice of a physician and knowing your risk factors, can help you treat cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of stroke. If you have tried a program or want to offer your own tips, please share your story with us.

Resources

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• American Diabetes Association
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, en español Department of Health and Human Services:  Office of the Surgeon General, You Can Quit Smoking
• National Stroke Association 
• The Stroke Collaborative - Give me 5 for Stroke
• World Health Organization (WHO)