Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2011 - (Page 12)

heart smart Stroke Knows No Age The debiliTaTing condiTion can sTrike younger adulTs and even children. here’s whaT you can do To proTecT yourself When rocker Bret Michaels suffered a “warning” stroke at age 47, it drove home the message that stroke doesn’t happen only to the elderly. According to the National Stroke Association, it takes 12 to 24 hours for adults to get to the hospital after recognizing the first symptoms of stroke. For children, it’s delayed to 48 to 72 hours, mostly because of the belief that strokes don’t happen to children. risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes can develop atherosclerosis and suffer strokes, too. Stroke has many other causes, including trauma, certain heart conditions, and genetic and metabolic disease and disorders. How You Can Lower Your Risk Minimize your odds of having a stroke by following this advice: p Exercise most days for at least 30 minutes. p Make smart food choices. You can reduce three risk factors for stroke—high cholesterol, high blood pressure and excess weight— with the right diet. Load up your plate with vegetables and fruits. Add whole-grain foods, which are loaded with fiber and can help lower cholesterol levels. Choose fish such as trout, salmon or herring at least twice a week. Round out your diet with low-fat or nonfat dairy products and lean meats and poultry. p If you drink alcohol, keep to no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. p Have your blood pressure measured. If it’s high and you can’t lower it with diet and exercise, your doctor likely will recommend medication. p Don’t smoke. p Talk to your doctor. Lots of factors affect your risk of stroke, ranging from sickle cell anemia to birth control pills. Your doctor can tailor risk-reduction tips to your needs. What You Need to Know “Stroke actually can happen in younger individuals,” says Peter Messick, MD, board-certified emergency medicine physician on staff at Central Carolina Hospital. “But while it doesn’t happen as often in younger people, it’s important for everyone to understand the warning signs of a stroke. The earlier we catch it, the better the outcome for the patient. It’s important that people don’t delay or not get care because they believe they are too young and it can’t happen to them.” Stroke can cause permanent disability or death. In fact, stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer. Dr. Messick advises: “Time is brain. Don’t waste it. If you do have symptoms, call 911. You will be taken to the nearest hospital where stroke protocols can begin being delivered immediately.” What Happens During a Stroke Stroke occurs when part of your brain doesn’t get the blood flow it needs to function properly. Two types of stroke cause this impaired blood flow: Ischemic stroke is most common, responsible for 87 percent of cases. It occurs when a clot breaks free somewhere in the body’s blood vessels and travels to the brain, where it gets stuck and blocks blood flow. Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain. Instead of flowing through the blood vessels properly, the blood floods the brain. The Things You Can’t Control You can’t change several stroke risk factors, but you should be aware of them so you know your overall risk. Age. Stroke risk increases as you get older. After 55, risk approximately doubles for each decade that follows. Family history. If you have a close relative who has had a stroke, your risk is higher. Blacks are at higher risk of stroke than Caucasians. Gender. Men are more likely to suffer stroke, but women account for more than half of deaths from stroke. Two unique risks for women are use of birth control pills and pregnancy. Previous stroke. Suffering a stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack (TIA, or “warning stroke”) raises your risk. What Causes Stroke A range of conditions can trigger stroke. Atherosclerosis, or fatty deposits in the blood vessels, is often the cause of ischemic strokes. Because the deposits build over years or decades, strokes caused by this condition are more prevalent in older people. But younger adults with other Take Action If you think you are or someone else is suffering a stroke, call 911. Getting treatment quickly is important. With certain strokes (ischemic), you have a short window during which doctors can administer clot-busting drugs called thrombolytics, which may prevent damage or disability. But the clock starts ticking when you first notice symptoms, so get treated right away. 12 | Fa L L 2 0 1 1 Peter Messick, MD, board-certified emergency physician

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2011

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2011
From the CEO
Contents
Health Beat
Ladies First
Role Reversal
Health Smart
Q+A
Smaller Portions, Bigger Success

Central Carolina HEALTH - Fall 2011