RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Strokes strike about 700,000 Americans each year, but the vast majority of people survive.
Identifying symptoms of a stroke can be difficult. However, the lack of awareness can mean disaster. If the symptoms of a stroke are not recognized, the stroke victim may suffer brain damage. Doctors report that a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
If the person has difficulty with any of the above requests, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.
Having certain diseases increases your risk for a stroke. If you can control the disease, you lower your risk.
Risk factors you can control include:
High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the second most important stroke risk factor after age.
Diabetes. About one-quarter of people with diabetes die of stroke. Having diabetes doubles your risk for stroke because of the circulation problems associated with the disease.
High cholesterol. High cholesterol can lead to coronary artery disease and heart attack, which can damage the heart muscle and increase your risk for stroke.
Coronary artery disease, which can lead to heart attack and stroke and other heart conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, endocarditis, heart valve conditions, patent foramen ovale, or cardiomyopathy.
Smoking, including second hand smoke.
Physical inactivity.
Being overweight.
Use of some medications, such as birth control pills-especially by women who smoke or have a history of blood-clotting problems-and anticoagulants or steroids. In postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to slightly increase the risk of stroke.
Heavy use of alcohol. People who drink alcohol excessively, especially people who binge drink, are more likely to have a stroke. Binge drinking is defined as drinking more than 5 drinks in a short period of time.
Use of cocaine and other illegal drugs.