Council on Aging Answers 2015 - 54

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

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Strokes: Know Your Risks
n Guy Navarro, MBA

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of
your brain is suddenly interrupted. When this happens,
brain tissue is damaged as brain cells don't get the blood
they need. Deprived of oxygen, nerve cells stop working
and die within minutes. Most strokes happen because a
blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain or neck. A
stroke can cause movement problems, pain, numbness,
and problems with thinking, remembering, or speaking.
Some people also have emotional problems such as
depression, after a stroke.
The Silent Killer
Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death and a leading
cause of serious, long term disability in America. It
is not uncommon for a doctor to tell a patient they
have hypertension (high blood pressure) only to have
the patient reply, "But doctor, I feel fine." Indeed, the
person may feel well because hypertension exhibits no
symptoms-no nervousness, pains or dizziness. That is
why it is called the silent killer. The first symptom some
people feel is the stroke itself, which can cause crippling
injuries, even death.
High blood pressure is the single most important
risk factor for stroke because it's the NUMBER ONE
cause of a stroke. Blood pressure measures the pressure
blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it courses its
way through the body. The problem with high blood
pressure is that it causes your heart to work harder,
which can weaken blood vessels and harm major organs.
A healthy reading is about 120/80. Readings consistently
above 140/90 indicate your blood pressure is in the
danger zone. Talk to your doctor about how to manage
it.
Don't ignore the warning signs even if they go away.
Timing is important. If you experience any of the
warning signs, note the time the symptoms start and call
911 right away. A stroke is a medical emergency! There
are treatments that can be considered within 3 hours
of the onset of symptoms. Getting treatment as soon as
possible can help prevent permanent damage to your
brain.
54

Answers Guide 2015

What are the risk factors?
n Having diabetes -If you have diabetes, your
chances of having a stroke are 2 to 4 times higher
than people who don't have it
n Having had a prior stroke or a transient ischemic
attack (i.e., TIA)
n Family history of stroke
n Atrial fibrillation (AFib) or other heart disease
n High blood pressure (hypertension)
n Physical inactivity and obesity
n High blood cholesterol
n Increased age
n Excessive alcohol intake and/or illegal drug use
n Smoking
Can strokes be prevented?
Up to 80% of strokes are preventable. There are an
estimated 800,000 strokes in the US each year, yet 1 in
4 Americans are not able to name a single stroke factor.
You can reduce your stroke significantly by living a
healthy lifestyle.
Review the symptoms of a stroke with your family
and friends and know the importance of calling 911.
For additional information contact the RTH Stroke
Foundation (888) 794-9466 or visit: rthfoundation.org.
See stroke symptoms on Page 20.
Guy Navarro is the Executive Director at the RTH
Stroke Foundation.

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Council on Aging Answers 2015

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