Stroke Takes a Holiday
Professor David J. Demko, PhD
AgeVenture News Service, 12-09-02
"Home for the holidays". Family and friends arrive from distant time zones. Red-bowed, green wreaths decorate your home. The aroma of fresh baked bread signals dinner is just minutes away. Time to celebrate. Let the good times roll. PERFECT.
But wait. There's an uninvited guest. It's the health-grinch, also called "stroke". When you least expect it, your so-called "wonderful life" could become a "big fat greek tragedy". How's that? Well, no doubt more than just a few of those old friends populating your household festivities are 50-plus. You DO know what "50-plus" means don't you? That's the stage of life when "50-plus" could mean your age, or your waist-size. Sometimes, both. Who invited all these old people? Afterall, YOU don't feel or look "old". Get over your denial.
After age 55, the risk of stroke increases dramatically. That means you have to be prepared for certain life events that no one even expects, but somehow always manage to happen. Could you recognize the symptoms in any of your guests? Do you know what action to take, even if the episode appears quite brief and minor such as in Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)? Reading this article can make the difference between holiday triumph or holiday tragedy. If you are informed and prepared to act, then your very presence at the next family gathering might be a stroke of luck. A stroke of luck that makes all the difference in the world.
What is Transient Ischemic Attack?
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a transient stroke that lasts only a few minutes. It occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is briefly interrupted. TIA symptoms, which usually occur suddenly, are similar to those of stroke but do not last as long. Most symptoms of a TIA disappear within an hour, although they may persist for up to 24 hours. Symptoms can include: numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion or difficulty in talking or understanding speech; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; and difficulty with walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.
Is there any treatment?
Because there is no way to tell whether symptoms are from a TIA or an acute stroke, patients should assume that all stroke-like symptoms signal an emergency and should not wait to see if they go away. A prompt evaluation (within 60 minutes) is necessary to identify the cause of the TIA and determine appropriate therapy. Depending on a patient’s medical history and the results of a medical examination, the doctor may recommend drug therapy or surgery to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a TIA. The use of antiplatelet agents, particularly aspirin, is a standard treatment for patients at risk for stroke. People with atrial fibrillation (irregular beating of the heart) may be prescribed anticoagulants.
What is the prognosis?
TIAs are often warning signs that a person is at risk for a more serious and debilitating stroke. About one-third of those who have a TIA will have an acute stroke some time in the future. Many strokes can be prevented by heeding the warning signs of TIAs and treating underlying risk factors. The most important treatable factors linked to TIAs and stroke are high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, carotid artery disease, diabetes, and heavy use of alcohol. Medical help is available to reduce and eliminate these factors. Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet, maintaining healthy weight, exercising, and enrolling in smoking and alcohol cessation programs can also reduce these factors.
This stroke information sheet was compiled by the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The NINDS web site offers loads of life-saving information. If I were you, I'd put the NINDS Internet address on speed-dial: www.ninds.nih.gov
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