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Warning Signs Of Stroke? Most Folks Flunk That Quiz

Dr. David Lipschitz

In a survey of 71,000 adults in 13 states, the Centers for Disease Control revealed that few people know the warning signs of a stroke.

Information obtained from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey found that only 16.4 percent of adults could identify all of the five warning signs of an impending stroke. Incredibly, very few respondents were able to tell what symptoms did not indicate a stroke, and many inaccurately assumed that the most acute warning sign was chest pain.

The report also revealed that the ability to recognize stroke symptoms varied by region. It was worst in Mississippi and best in Minnesota. Also, men, blacks, Hispanics and those without a high school diploma were less likely to know the symptoms of stroke.

The CDC considers the following as important warning signs of an impending stroke:

- Sudden weakness or numbness of the arms, legs or face, especially on one side.

- Sudden vision problem in one or both eyes.

- Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination or difficulty walking.

- Sudden confusion or trouble speaking.

- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

Recognizing these early warnings signs of stroke is critically important. Unfortunately, the symptoms do not always present in the same way. Symptoms may begin and remain constant, or they may gradually get worse with time. In an episode called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, symptoms may occur for a short period of time (anywhere from a few minutes to an hour) and then totally disappear. If this occurs for the first time, it is often a harbinger of an impending stroke.

Whether the symptoms are transient or not, call 911 and get to an emergency department as soon as possible. The sooner you get to a hospital, the greater the chance that a debilitating stroke or death can be avoided. Not seeking help immediately increases the risk of death, as well as the chances that the stroke will lead to permanent disability, such as inability to walk without assistance, difficulty with speech, incontinence and a decline in cognitive function.

If you do get to the hospital within three hours of the onset of symptoms, imaging studies of the brain and the cerebral artery, through CT and/or MRI scans, can pinpoint the site of the problem. Most commonly, this is a blood clot, but on occasion stroke can be due to a hemorrhage into the brain. Blood clots can arise from the heart or carotid artery, where they break off and block a large artery in the brain. Sometimes a blood clot can arise spontaneously in a cerebral artery and lead to a stroke.

Treatment might include removing the clot by inserting a catheter into the blocked artery or by using clot-busting medications to dissolve the blood clot. In most cases, rapid intervention can totally prevent permanent disability. Delay coming to the emergency room by more than 12 hours and the ability to dissolve or remove the clot becomes impossible.

If you experience a TIA, a blood clot may be identified. If the clot is not removed, it will almost certainly lead to a stroke. If no clot is identified, this means that the blockage was within a very small vessel and the body dissolved it. In this circumstance, the clot comes either from the heart or carotid artery.

In this case, ultrasound studies are typically done on the carotid arteries. If a blockage of 70 percent or more is identified, surgery to open one or both arteries is recommended. The heart is also evaluated to make sure that an irregular heart rate did not lead to blood clot formation.

Further treatment involves compulsive management of high blood pressure, treating elevated cholesterol and using blood thinners to prevent further clots. The medications used include aspirin alone or aspirin plus dipyridamole (Aggrenox) or clopidogrel (Plavix). The most commonly identified irregular heart rate that leads to a high risk of stroke is atrial fibrillation. Here, treatment with Coumadin is required.

Living a heart-healthy lifestyle and compulsively managing risk factors can significantly reduce the risk of another stroke.

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Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.drdavidhealth.com.

Source:
LifeLong Health
Arca Max Publishing
http://www.arcamax.com