Stroke: What is it, Who is at Risk, and How Should You Take Action?

Photo by Courtesy Graphic

June is stroke awareness month, and educating yourself about stroke can be life-changing.

Who is most at risk?

Stroke can happen to anyone at any time. There are a number of risk factors for stroke.

Uncontrolled risk factors include:

      • Age: Stroke can occur at any age; 1 out of 5 people who have a stroke are under 55, and your chance of stroke increases as you get older.
      • Race:  African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders have a higher risk of stroke than people of other races.
      • Gender: Incidence of stroke is higher in women than in men, and more women die from stroke than from breast cancer every year.
      • Family history: You are at a greater risk of having a stroke if a family member has had a stroke.

Manageable risk factors include:

      • High blood pressure
      • Atrial fibrillation (A-fib)
      • High cholesterol
      • Smoking
      • Diabetes
      • Poor circulation
      • Lack of physical activity
      • Obesity

What is stroke?

Stroke is a brain attack. It occurs when blood vessels in the brain, called arteries, are blocked or burst. The consequences of stroke can be long-term disability and even death.

What happens during stroke?

Obstruction or damage to the arteries in the brain may prevent it from getting adequate blood supply. This can cause brain cells to die, inflicting permanent damage. Depending on which part of the brain is damaged, an individual’s ability to speak, see, and move may become impaired. That’s why it is important to act the moment you suspect stroke.

What are the types of stroke?

Ischemic Stroke (Clots)

Occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed. It accounts for 87 percent of all strokes.

Hemorrhagic Stroke (Bleeds)

Occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures. The two types of weakened blood vessels that usually cause hemorrhagic stroke are aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). The most common cause of hemorrhagic stroke is uncontrolled high blood pressure.

TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)

Also called a “mini stroke,” TIAs are caused by a serious temporary clot. This is a warning stroke and should be taken seriously.

Cryptogenic Stroke

In most cases, a stroke is caused by a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood to the brain. In some instances, despite testing, the cause of a stroke cannot be determined. A stroke of unknown cause is called a “cryptogenic stroke.”

Source: American Stroke Association

What to do if you think someone is having a stroke:

    1. Call 911 immediately
    2. Note the time you first see symptoms

A clot-busting medication called t\PA, or tissue plasminogen activator, can be given to someone if they’re having a stroke, potentially reversing or stopping symptoms from developing. However, it must be given within 4.5 hours of the start of symptoms.

    1. Perform CPR, if necessary

Most stroke patients don’t require CPR, but if the patient does go unconscious then perform CPR with normal protocols.

Resources:

https://www.strokeinfo.org

https://www.stroke.org/

https://www.pennmedicine.org

About the Author:

Tim Hickey attained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education from Cal-State Hayward in 1995. He has worked at several corporations in the Silicon Valley including National Semiconductor, Sun Microsystems, Fairchild Semiconductor, Quantum, Maxtor Corporation, SanDisk Corp, and Gilead Sciences implementing and maintaining corporate fitness programs. He feels that functional training incorporated with muscular mobility and flexibility is an integral component of any workout program.

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