76. Strokes: You Can Reduce the Risk
Ted was a veteran racquetball player, but suddenly his arms felt weak and numb for no apparent reason, so he decided to check with his doctor. Tests showed that blood flow to Ted’s brain was inadequate. His carotid artery (the artery in the neck that carries blood to the brain) had narrowed from atherosclerosis—something that, if left uncorrected, could lead to a stroke. Thanks to surgery and a change in diet, Ted never had a stroke.
Ted recognized—and heeded—an important warning signal. His follow-up action saved his life.
Strokes (also called “brain attacks”) are the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke can be caused by lack of blood (and therefore lack of oxygen) to the brain, usually due to either a blot clot or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. In either case, the end result is brain damage (and possibly death).
Here’s what to do to reduce the risk of a stroke.
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•Have your blood pressure checked at every office visit, at least every two years, or as advised by your doctor. Follow your doctor’s advice to keep your blood pressure under control.
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•Reduce blood levels of total cholesterol to below 200 milligrams per deciliter (measured by a blood test).
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•Get regular exercise. Get and stay at a healthy body weight.
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•Use alcohol in moderation, if at all.
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•Don’t smoke. If you smoke, quit.
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•Keep blood sugar levels under control if you’re diabetic.
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•Learn to manage stress.
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•Get checked at your doctor’s office for atrial fibrillation, a form of irregular beating of the heart. It can cause small blood clots to form that then go up to the brain and cause a stroke. These strokes can be greatly reduced by taking medication.
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•Ask your doctor to evaluate you for a surgical procedure that scrapes away fatty deposits from inside one or both of the main arteries in your neck.
Get emergency medical care for any signs or symptoms of a stroke:
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•Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
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•Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
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•Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
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•Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Note: Stroke symptoms can appear for a short time and go away. This could be a sign of a transient ischemic attack (TIA). A TIA is a temporary lack of blood supply to the brain. It is a warning that a stroke may follow. See your doctor right away if you have TIA episodes.
