Health

Knowing the signs of a stroke and what to tell the doctor when you arrive at the hospital can make all the difference in the world — between life and death, good health and disability. It can preserve the ability to walk and talk, to think, and to live independently. That's because protecting the brain from stroke damage depends not only on getting prompt treatment, but also on getting the right treatment.

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 45 seconds and someone dies of a stroke every 3 minutes, amounting to 700,000 strokes and 157,000 deaths annually. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in this country, behind heart disease and cancer.

Stroke is often referred to as a "brain attack" because it can strike as suddenly as a heart attack. And stroke — like heart disease — is really all about what is happening in the blood vessels. Which blood vessels are affected, and how, will determine both diagnosis and treatment.

Despite its prevalence, stroke is highly preventable. In this report, you'll learn how to assess your risk of stroke and what you can do to reduce it. Prevention is key, especially for people who have had a stroke, because having one stroke increases the odds of having another. Guidelines issued jointly by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association call for aggressive preventive measures.

The stroke guidelines also underscore the importance of controlling blood pressure, which can reduce stroke risk by 30% to 40%, as well as managing diabetes and cholesterol, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, controlling weight, and drinking alcohol only in moderation.

This report tells you what you need to know about the different types of strokes — which arteries are affected, the nature of the underlying pathology (anatomical and biological abnormalities), and what symptoms you may experience. It describes how diagnostic tests can yield information about the pathology of the affected artery, such as the cause of a blockage, thereby allowing a focused treatment and prevention strategy. You'll learn about the medical and surgical treatments for stroke. You'll find an overview of rehabilitation specialists and their techniques. Finally, this report explores issues that your doctor may not cover, like the emotional experiences common to people who have suffered a stroke, with practical guidance on easing the way to recovery.

Source: from Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2008 Harvard University. All rights reserved. Harvard Medical School does not endorse products.
Used with permission of StayWell.
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