Stroke: Screening, Prevention and Treatment
A stroke (also known as a cerebrovascular accident) occurs when the brain is damaged as the result of an interruption of blood supply.
Your brain, like every other organ in your body, relies on blood to bring oxygen and nutrients to keep it operating. If the blood supply is cut off for any reason, the brain sustains injuries that may be permanent, and life-threatening. Over 200,000 cases of stroke occur in the United States each year.
Diagnosable Stroke Risk Factors
These warning signs can be detected through testing, and treated at Greenwich Cardiology:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol / Carotid Artery Disease
- Family history
- Recent strokes
- Transient ischemic attacks (“mini-strokes”)
- Atrial fibrilllaion / Arrhythmia
Recommended Screenings
These warning signs can be detected through testing, and treated at Greenwich Cardiology:
- Blood tests for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol
- Carotid Ultrasound for carotid blockage
- ECG, Echocardiogram and Holter Monitoring for blood clots and arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation
Additional Stroke Risk Factors to Consider:
- Age
- Cigarette smoking
- Physical exercise habits
Symptoms of a Stroke
If you experience any of the following, call 911 immediately. Immediate treatment is vital to the restoration of brain and bodily function. If warning signs are diagnosed in time, your risk of stroke can be greatly reduced.
- Numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
- Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause.
Strokes Are Preventable
A recent study found that 9 out of 10 strokes could be prevented , and that blood pressure is the most important risk factor. Proper management of blood pressure can lower risk of stroke by 48% alone.
Let’s test your risk factors and develop a sustainable plan to improve your heart health, and minimize your risk of stroke:
