Empower Yourself Against Stroke

What causes a stroke?
There are three different kinds of stroke, all of which cause the same problem – depriving the brain of the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. An ischemic stroke (more than 85 percent of all strokes) is caused by a blockage in an artery carrying blood into the brain. 

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, is a brief ischemic stroke. Though symptoms pass quickly, a TIA requires medical attention because, statistically, the risk is high that another stroke will occur soon. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain leaks or bursts.

Stroke symptoms
Can you name the symptoms of a stroke? About 40 percent of people in the United States can’t identify at least one of the symptoms. A good way to remember the signs of stroke is by using the acronym BE FAST. 

B = Balance — sudden dizziness or loss of balance and coordination.
E = Eyes — sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
F = Face — sudden weakness of the face (Does one side of your face droop?) 
A = Arm — weakness of an arm or leg
S = Speech — sudden difficulty speaking  
T = Time — time the symptoms started

When it comes to stroke, time is brain. If you witness someone having a stroke, immediately call 911 and check the time so you’ll be able to tell the doctor when the first symptoms appeared. 

Women and stroke
Women have more strokes than men, accounting for six out of 10 stroke deaths. Women also suffer greater impairment and are more likely to die from stroke than men. A particular risk factor for women includes giving birth after age 40. This brings a 1.4 percent higher lifetime risk for having an ischemic stroke and a .5 percent higher risk for a hemorrhagic stroke. In obese or overweight women taking birth control pills raises the risk for a rare type of stroke called cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).

Having migraines with visual symptoms (called “aura”) raises stroke risk 2.4 times, especially in young women. Migraine with aura is also a red flag indicating higher stroke risk for older (menopausal) women who take hormone replacement.

Young people get strokes, too 
Though it’s still rare, the number of young stroke victims is growing. Stroke now ranks in the top 10 causes of death in children in the United States.

• The highest risk for infant stroke is right before, during, and after childbirth. A child’s greatest risk of stroke is in the first year of life.
• A birth defect called arteriovenous malformation in the brain is the most common cause of stroke in children and teens.
• Substance abuse, most particularly the use of intravenous drugs and/or cocaine, can substantially raise stroke risk in teens and young adults. Pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives and smoking also elevate stroke risk in young people.

Preventing stroke
You’ve probably heard this advice before, but the best way to lower the likelihood that you’ll suffer a stroke is to live a healthy lifestyle. Follow a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, keep your weight healthy, manage stress, limit alcohol consumption and – importantly – don’t smoke. 

Another thing you can do is avoid overworking yourself. Working 55 hours a week or more raises stroke risk by 33 percent. This is worrisome, given that the average American workweek has now grown to 47 hours. 

Being social can also help prevent stroke. Loneliness and isolation raise stroke risk by 32 percent. You should also take necessary measures to improve sleep. Sleep fragmentation (awakening often throughout the night) can cause arterial stiffness in the brain, leading to oxygen-deprivation and higher stroke risk for older people.

During meals, be sure to eat lots of fresh produce — especially white-fleshed fruits and vegetables. Researchers report that bananas, pears, apples, mushrooms and cauliflower are even more protective against stroke.

Stroke Care in Southern Utah 
Patients who suffer a stroke can be treated by experts right here in southern Utah. Intermountain Dixie Regional Medical Center is a primary stroke center, which means the hospital is equipped and dedicated to provide organized and efficient care for patients with all types of strokes.  

Long-term side effects of a stroke may be minimized with timely treatment. There are multiple available treatment options for stroke victims depending on the timing and type of stroke. Never forget that time is brain. Don’t hesitate when you think you’re having a stroke — get to the hospital as soon as you can. 
For more information on stroke care at Dixie Regional, please visit our website, www.southernutahneuro.org.