Stroke Treatment and Research
Stroke Stories
What is Stroke?
A stroke is a brain attack. Blood flow to the brain is interrupted and this may cause permanent damage to the brain. A stroke is a medical emergency. If you suspect a stroke, call 911 immediately. Time is brain! Some clot-dissolving agents that make a big difference can only be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset or up to 4.5 hours for select patients.
Stroke Facts
Here are some facts about stroke:
- In the U.S., a stroke occurs every 40 seconds.
- Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability.
- Every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone in the U.S. dies of a stroke.
- Every year more than 795,000 people in the U.S. will have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.
- Risk for having a first stroke is nearly twice as high for non-Hispanic Black adults as for White adults.
Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Stroke Prevention
You can reduce your risk of stroke through regular check-ups with your doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes:
- Controlling high blood pressure
- Not smoking
- Eating a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats
- Being physically active
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Managing diabetes
- Drinking alcohol in moderation or not at all
Medications for Stroke
- Anti-thrombotics like aspirin and Plavix prevent formation of platelet plaques that stick to arteries.
- Cholesterol-reducing drugs like Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor reduce cholesterol plaques that clog the arteries.
- Antihypertensives reduce blood pressure.
How much do you know about strokes? Could you be at risk?