Stroke: Silent Killer

Heart attacks and strokes rank first and third, respectively, as causes of death each year among Americans. But the good news is that doctors now know far more than they once did about treating these conditions effectively. Time can be critical, and quick action can save your life.

Think of a stroke as a brain attack. It, too, involves a disruption of blood supply. About 80 percent of strokes are ischemic, in which a blood vessel in the head or neck is blocked. In another kind, hemorrhagic, the vessel ruptures or leaks. Either way, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die.

Strokes have been called "the silent killer" because they often come without warning. However, for many patients there is a warning. It's called a transient ischemic attack, or TIA. A TIA is marked by the same symptoms as a stroke, but its effects are reversible, and symptoms go away in a few minutes.

The warning signs of a stroke or TIA are:

• sudden weakness, numbness or tingling in the face, arm and leg on one side of the body
• loss of speech, garbled speech or trouble talking or understanding others
• loss of vision, as if a shade has been drawn over one eye
• sudden dizziness or loss of balance
• sudden severe headaches

The clot-busting agents used to treat stroke can only be administered in the first three hours after onset. So if you think you or a companion is having a stroke, don't delay. Call 911 or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Protect yourself
While we have very good treatments for stroke and heart attack the best thing we can do is prevent them. People need to take control.

• Exercise
• Choose a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables
• Don't drink alcohol to excess or smoke
• See your doctor regularly

Know your risk factors for heart attack and stroke
The American Stroke Association has identified several factors that increase the risk of stroke. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will have a stroke. Some of these you can't control, such as increasing age, family health history, race and gender. But you can change or treat most other risk factors to lower your risk. Factors resulting from lifestyle or environment can be modified with a physician's help.

Take this 10-question quiz to assess your level of risk for both heart attack and stroke. Tally the number of "yes" answers you have, and discuss your score with your doctor-along with steps you can take to improve the risk factors you can change. Remember, the greater the number of risk factors you have, the greater chance you have of a stroke.

To find a physician, click here or call 1-800-3-ADVOCATE.