Are You Having A Stroke? Watch For These Signs

By Barb Hicks

Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain has been halted
due to a clot or bleeding into the brain. Therefore, blood
is unable to reach all destinations of the brain, resulting
in a stroke. The person experiencing a stroke will begin to
exhibit signs and symptoms. Some signs come and go usually
within 5 minutes and leave no lasting effects. However,
symptoms lasting longer may indicate a major stroke is
occurring. Even if symptoms are short lived, it is
imperative to get medical help immediately. If not treated
as soon as possible, major brain damage and lifelong
disabilities could result.

What are the signs?

- Tingling sensation in the face or extremities - Paralysis
or weakness on one side - Difficulty speaking - Inability to
understand speech - Blindness - Dizziness - Pain -
Nausea/vomiting - Sudden intense headache

If you believe someone around you is experiencing these
symptoms call 011 and seek the help of medical professionals
immediately.

Risk Factors for Stroke:

- Age: At age 55 the risk of stroke doubles every ten years
after - Race - Gender: Typically, women are less likely to
experience a stroke than men - Previous stroke - Fractures
resulting in a fat embolism - Family History - Atrial
Fibrillation

Reducing your risks:

Take all medications prescribed by your physician. Monitor
blood pressure. Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Quit Smoking. Eat a healthy diet. Get plenty of exercise.

Physicians use a CT, MRI or Angiogram to determine the
location of a stroke, the amount of damage it caused as well
as what type of stroke was experienced.

Treatment involves clot busters, such as tPA that must be
given within hours of the onset of symptoms. Surgical
intervention is an option for ischemic and hemorrhagic
strokes.

Care after stroke:

Recovery after a stroke may take a few days to over a year
to complete. In many cases, occupational, physical and
speech therapy may be required.

Types of Medications:

Thrombolytics - Clot busters that loosen or break up blood
clots. The debris is cleaned up by phagocytic cells.
Antiplatelet - Prevents platelet s from sticking together,
thus preventing clot formation. Anticoagulants - Stops
clots from forming, particularly those with A-fib who are
prone to blood clots due to the rapid contractions of the
atria of the heart.

If you have other diseases such as diabetes or high blood
pressure, it is very important to monitor and manage them
properly. Proper care will help ensure that the risk of a
stroke is lessened and a quality, productive life prevails.

Having an exercise regimen at least three days a week can
lower blood pressure. Blood pressure is the number one
factor in bringing on a stroke or hemorrhagic strokes.

A healthy diet containing fresh fruits, whole grains and
nuts, vegetables and lean meats is another great way to help
lessen the risks for stroke.

Barb Hicks is a licensed registered nurse and featured
health writer on Clivir.com. You can find here her lessons
on
(http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/what-causes-a-stroke-common-cause-of-stroke.html)
Stroke Causes and other information about
(http://www.clivir.com/lessons/show/early-warning-signs-and-symptoms-of-a-stroke.html)
Early Warning Signs of Stroke.

High Blood Pressure - Does Race Play a Part?

There are many different things that can put you at a greater risk for high blood pressure. If there is something in your life that makes it hard for your heart to work the way that it should, you are going to experience high blood pressure, even if you are doing some things in a healthy way. However, one of the things that has long been felt by many in the medical community to be a factor in high blood pressure is your race. It has long been thought that there are some genetic factors that make one race more apt to have high blood pressure than another. While this might be true, there are certain things that you should try and do for yourself no matter what race you are.

First of all, a big part of high blood pressure is the foods that we eat. If you come from a racial background that richly celebrates every occasion with meals that are high in fat and cholesterol, your entire family is going to see that they might have problems with high blood pressure. This might be something that is linked to race, because different races celebrate things in different ways, and the traditional cooking is much different from place to place, as well as from race to race. If you belong to a culture that has a tendency to eat foods often that are high in fat, you might want to consider changing the way that you cook on a day to day basis. If you still want to participate in your family functions and eat the foods that everyone else is eating, it is okay as long as this is only practiced in moderation. If you can cook for yourself every single day and eat foods that are low in fat and cholesterol, you are going to have a better chance of lowering your own high blood pressure. You can also encourage your family to use low fat substitutes when they are celebrating. Exercise plays a role as well.

Certain blood pressure conditions are prevalent with certain races. If you are black or Hispanic, make sure you keep your blood pressure in check A number of more serious health conditions can occur if high blood pressure is not addressed, so if you are at risk, monitor it carefully, eat well, and exercise often. By doing these things, you can prevent high blood pressure, no matter what race you may be.