Stroke Health Article

Prevention

Damage from stroke may be significantly reduced through emergency treatment. Knowing the symptoms of stroke is as important as knowing those of a heart attack. Patients with stroke symptoms should seek emergency treatment without delay, which may mean dialing 911 rather than their family physician.

The risk of stroke can be reduced through lifestyle changes:

• stop smoking
• control blood pressure
• get regular exercise
• keep body weight down
• avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• get regular checkups and follow the doctor's advice regarding diet and medicines

Treatment of atrial fibrillation may significantly reduce the risk of stroke. Preventive anticoagulant therapy may benefit those with untreated atrial fibrillation. Warfarin (Coumadin) has proven to be more effective than aspirin for those with higher risk.

Screening for aneurysms may be an effective preventive measure in those with a family history of aneurysms or autosomal polycystic kidney disease, which tends to be associated with aneurysms.

BOOKS

Caplan, L. R., M. L. Dyken, and J. D. Easton. American Heart Association Family Guide to Stroke Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention. New York: Times Books, 1996.

Warlow, C. P., et al. Stroke: A Practical Guide to Management. Boston: Blackwell Science, 1996.

Weiner F., M. H. M. Lee, and H. Bell. Recovering at Home After a Stroke: A Practical Guide for You and Your Family. Los Angeles: The Body Press/Perigee Books, 1994.

PERIODICALS

Selman, W. R., R. Tarr, and D. M. D. Landis. "Brain Attack: Emergency Treatment of Ischemic Stroke." American Family Physician 55 (June 1997): 2655-2662.

Wolf, P. A., and D. E. Singer. "Preventing Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation." American Family Physician (Dec. 1997).

ORGANIZATIONS

American Heart Association. 7320 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75231. (214) 373-6300. <http://www.americanheart.org>.

National Stroke Association. 9707 E. Easter Lane, Englewood, Co 80112. (800) 787-6537. <http://www.stroke.org>.

Richard Robinson

KEY TERMS

Aneurysm—A pouchlike bulging of a blood vessel. Aneurysms can rupture, leading to stroke.

Atrial fibrillation—A disorder of the heart beat associated with a higher risk of stroke. In this disorder, the upper chambers (atria) of the heart do not completely empty when the heart beats, which can allow blood clots to form.

Cerebral embolism—A blockage of blood flow through a vessel in the brain by a blood clot that formed elsewhere in the body and traveled to the brain.

Cerebral thrombosis—A blockage of blood flow through a vessel in the brain by a blood clot that formed in the brain itself.

Intracerebral hemorrhage—A cause of some strokes in which vessels within the brain begin bleeding.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage—A cause of some strokes in which arteries on the surface of the brain begin bleeding.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)—A substance that is sometimes given to patients within three hours of a stroke to dissolve blood clots within the brain.