Stroke

Stroke ranks as the third leading killer in the United States. A stroke can be devastating to individuals and their families, robbing them of their independence. It is the most common cause of adult disability.

Annually, 770,000 new strokes occur. Approximately 160,000 people died from acute stroke in 1998; almost half of these deaths occurred out of a hospital.

Of those who survive an initial stroke, 25% will die within a year. Average post-stroke survival rate for stroke victims is seven years. There were 4.4 million stroke-survivors in 1998.

The recovery from a stroke depends on its severity. 15-30% of survivors remain permanently disabled. Fourteen percent of those who have a first stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) will have another stroke within one year.

72% of victims of stroke are older than age 65. Age is the most significant risk factor for stroke. The incidence of stroke more than doubles in each successive decade of life over age 55.

Stroke is quite expensive. In the United States alone, the total cost to Medicare for short-term hospital stays due to stroke totaled $3.8 billion in 1997. It is estimated that annual direct and indirect costs for stroke care total $40 billion. The majority of strokes (77%) are ischemic; intracerebral hemorrhages account for 17% of strokes, and subarachnoid hemorrhages account for 6%. to learn .

The good news is that treatments are available that can greatly reduce the damage caused by a stroke. The bad news is that to prevent serious disability, you need to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and get to a hospital and treatment within 60 minutes.

More than a million stroke survivors in the US 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. Scientists at the National Institutes of Health predict that, with continued attention to reducing the risks of stroke and by using currently available therapies and developing new ones, we should be able to prevent 80 percent of all strokes by the end of the decade.

What is Stroke?

A stroke, sometimes called a "brain attack," occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding brain cells.

Brain cells die when they no longer receive oxygen and nutrients from the blood or when they are damaged by sudden bleeding into or around the brain. The inadequate blood flow to the brain resulting in the loss of oxygen and nutrients for brain cells is called Ischemia. Ischemia will ultimately result in infarction, the death of brain cells. These cells are eventually replaced by a fluid-filled cavity in the injured brain.

When blood flow to the brain is interrupted, some brain cells die immediately, while others remain at risk for death. With timely treatment these cells can be saved.

Caution: If you suspect a stroke, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Time is of essence.

Common Sense Recommendations for Stroke

Measures that reduce the chances of stroke are the same as those for avoiding heart attack. Please refer to the techniques for improving cardiovascular health as well as to prevent heart attacks.

Adopt habits that promote cardiovascular health and deter atherosclerosis. The essentials of a healthy lifestyle include:

Eating foods that are low in fat, salt, and cholesterol
Exercising regularly
Controlling weight
Monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels regularly
Quit smoking is you already smoke. Don't smoke and avoid second hand smoke.

Here are some common sense recommendations for Stroke.

Keep your blood pressure under control

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the single most important factor in stroke risk. Keeping blood pressure below 140/90 can lower the risk of stroke by 75 to 85 percent. Between one-third and one-fourth of all adults in the United States have high blood pressure. High blood pressure responds well to a variety of drug and nondrug therapies. Check your blood pressure regularly ,at least once per month.

See High blood pressure (hypertension) for more about the risk of hypertension for stroke.

Stop smoking

Cigarette smokers have about a 60 percent higher risk of stroke compared to those who do not smoke. Smoking increases the risk of high blood pressure and the tendency to form blood clots, two factors closely associated with stroke. Virtually all of the excess risk associated with smoking can be eliminated within two or three years after quitting. Quit smoking is you already smoke. Don't smoke and avoid second hand smoke if you don't smoke now. Don't spend too much time in smoke filled rooms.

Stay active physically

Regular physical activity can reduce stroke risk. Evidence suggests that heavy workouts aren't necessary to get risk-reducing benefits for stroke. Walking, riding a bike, and working in the yard are just a few examples of activities that can produce an adequate workout. Studies have shown that the regularity of moderate physical activity is more important in controlling stroke than the intensity of the activity.

Avoid Excessive Drinking

Heavy alcohol use ounces of hard liquor increases the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of stroke.

See Heavy alcohol consumption to learn more about dangers of high alcoho; consumption on stroke.

Incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

People who have a higher intake of fruits and vegetables are found to have lower incidence of stroke. We do not understand fully the formal connection between stroke risk and the diet.

Keep your diabetes in check

Diabetes increases the risk of stroke by 300 percent. People with high blood sugar levels often have strokes that are more severe and more debilitating. On the other hand, better control of diabetes can help reduce stroke risk.

Have a healthy heart

Heart disease substantially increases the risk of stroke. In fact stroke is sometimes called brain attack because of the biological similarities between heart attack and stroke. Reduce the risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, physical inactivity, high blood sugar, and excess weight because these are also risk factors for stroke.

Keep your cholesterol level under control

Experts believe that a high cholesterol level plays a role in the development of carotid atherosclerosis, a build-up of fatty material in the carotid arteries, the blood vessels that supply the brain. The narrowing of these arteries brings about a significant increase in stroke risk.

Cutting your cholesterol by 25 percent lowers your stroke risk by 29 percent, according to an analysis of 16 studies by researchers .Check your blood cholesterol levels once per month and manage your cholesterol levels.

Aspirin may be beneficial

Regular aspirin reduces the risk of heart attack, especially in men. The evidence is less clear for stroke. Aspirin does seem to protect against recurrent strokes in people who have already had one stroke, but studies have yet to prove that aspirin reduces the chance of a first stroke. Ask your doctor about using aspirin to head off a stroke.

If your risk of stroke is high because of severe atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease, TIAs, or previous strokes, you should see a doctor regularly. When clot stroke is the indicated danger, your doctor may advise an aspirin a day to thin blood or other medications.

If your doctor recommends taking an anticoagulant to prevent stroke, ask whether you can try aspirin. Many doctors call aspirin the best-choice anticoagulant. It is preferred over prescription drugs because it's almost as effective, yet it is much cheaper and causes fewer side effects. Many studies have shown that taking regular low-dose aspirin helps prevent stroke. You can also try a herbal aspirin called willow tea if you prefer natural alternatives.

Don't ignore warning signs

Our body occasionally provide us with several warning signs to tell us of impending trouble. A fluttering heart, palpitations, or other suspicious sensations in the heart may mean trouble. Atrial fibrillation, a type of rapid, irregular heartbeat, poses a special risk for stroke. During an episode of irregular heartbeat, a blood clot can be ejected from the heart and shut off blood flow in an artery leading to the brain. And that can result in a stroke. The condition is more common in older people. Since prompt treatment can make a world of difference, see your doctor and tell him about these so that they can be checked. Don't feel embarrassed. It is your life.