Stroke

A stroke, often referred to as a brain attack to emphasize its seriousness, is an interruption of the blood supply to the brain.

If the brain is deprived of blood supply, it does not get oxygen; and brain cells can die very quickly.

This may cause permanent damage to a person, depending on the severity of deprivation, where the attack occurs, and how quickly treatment is delivered.

There are two broad categories: ischemic and hemorrhagic.

Ischemic is usually caused by a clot blockage or clogged arteries and is the most common type.

Hemorrhagic is bleeding inside the skull, usually occuring when a small blood vessel in the brain weakens, breaks and leaks.

There are risk factors which make one more suseptible to a brain attack.

Some risk factors are more beyond our control, such as family history, genetic dispositions, and age.

We do have greater control over many risk factors, however, such as alcohol and drug use, inactivity, smoking, diet, and to a large degree, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

Taking care of your body, mind and spirit are all critical in preventing a stroke and recovering from one. How to do this is covered in the LIVING section on this site and the links at the bottom of that page.

It is a whole lot better to take care of things before such a traumatic event occurs than to have to try to correct a lifetime of wrong decisions.

Know the risk factors, evaluate your lifestyle and start living healthy to prevent a stroke and live longer. Yes, it CAN happen to you.

As we see it, though, there is some good news: first, you can make healthy decisions now; second, if you are predisposed to having a brain attack, you may get warnings.

Transient ischemic attacks, or TIA's, are temporary and sometimes are so brief they often go unnoticed or undiagnosed; but they are critical warnings.

This emphasizes the importance of being able to recognize and identify symtoms of a TIA and getting rapid treatment. It can potentially save you from a full blown stroke and permanent brain damage.

Be aware of these symptoms and treat them seriously:

**slurred speech or difficulty understanding speech or reading

**numbness, such as face, fingers, arms, or one side of the body

**vision changes, ie, double vision or uncontrolled eye movements

**difficulty swallowing

**loss of balance or coordination; difficulty walking

**personality or mood changes

**unexplained drowsiness, fatigue, lethargy

Treat these as an emergency and get immediate treatment. If symptoms are brief, you may be experiencing a TIA . . . and this is a serious warning.

You can prevent a stroke; and you can also recover from one.

Don't worry . . . be healthy!