Susan George, Stroke is a brain attack, Kansas State University, April 2000

George, F. Susan (Florence Susan)

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Stroke is a Brain AttackClot blocking bloodflowto the brain Fact Sheet Promote Healthier and Safer LivesKansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension ServiceHere are some facts about stroke:■ Stroke is a brain attackStroke occurs when the blood supply is cut off to a part of the brain, either byan artery that becomes clogged, cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrientsto the brain, or by an artery bursting and bleeding into the brain. In eithersituation, the damaged portion of the brain may temporarily stop functioningor die. This may cause problems ranging from paralysis and complete loss ofindependence, to mild effects on language or mobility.■ Stroke is largely preventableModifiable risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, cigarettesmoking, diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol use, and high blood cholesterol.Many of these risks can be reduced by increasing exercise, reducing dietaryfats, and not smoking. This is easy to do — there are several activities rangingfrom going for a walk, joining an exercise class, and changes in diet, such asswitching from whole to 1% milk, and adding a serving or two of fresh fruitsand vegetables.Quiz: What do you know about stroke?1. Stroke is an injury to your:a. heartb. brainc. eyes2.  A sign of a stroke might be:a. one-sided weakness, numbness, or inabilityto move musclesb. sudden blindness or blurred vision in oneor both eyesc. slurring or garbled speech or the inability to speakd. sudden difficulty understanding words or statementse. all or any of the above3. Stroke is usually caused by:a. a tumorb. bleeding or clot in a brain blood vesselc. heart attack4. What should you do when a stroke occurs?a. call your doctorb. call the Emergency Roomc. call 911 immediately5. Factors that increase the risk of having a stroke include:a. smokingb. high blood pressurec. have had previous stroke warning signsd. heart diseasee. high blood cholesterolf. diabetesg. all of the above6.  I can make these changes and reduce my risk     of stroke by: a. increasing my exercise yes   no b. decrease dietary fats and increase fruitsand vegetables yes    no c. regularly monitor my blood pressure yes    noTo test your knowledge about stroke, please answer the following questions:Outdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.Promote Healthier and Safer Lives Stroke is a Brain Attack •■ The brain is a very complex organ The brain controls various body functions, and if blood flow is cut off from aregion that controls a particular function, this results in a loss of that function.For example, if the blood flow is cut off from the portion of the brain thatcontrols speech, the person may not be able to speak or say the words he/shewants to say. If blood flow is cut off to the brain centers that control motorfunction of the arm, the person may drop what he/she is holding or be unableto pick something up. If a stroke occurs in the vision centers of the brain,blindness may result, which can be total or one-sided. The effects dependupon the location of the obstruction and how much of the brain is affected.■ Stroke symptoms are often one-sidedBecause the left side of the brain controls functions on the right side of thebody and vice versa, stroke symptoms are likely to be one-sided. For ex-ample, if the stroke occurs on the right side of the brain, the left side of thebody will have loss of function, affecting personality and language in a waythat the person may have quick, impulsive behaviors and speak inappropri-ately. If the stroke occurs on the left side of the brain, the right side of thebody will be affected and the person may be unable to speak. They mayexhibit a slow, more cautious behavior style. In both cases, memory andsensation may be affected.Quiz: Assess your Stroke RiskThe more boxes you check, the greater your risk❏ You are a woman over 55 years old or have passed menopause or had your ovaries removed❏ You are a man over 45 years old❏ You have diabetes or take medicine to control your blood sugar❏ You have coronary artery disease or have had a heart attack❏ A doctor said you have cartoid artery disease or have had a stroke❏ You have an abnormal heartbeat❏ You have a close blood relative who had a stroke❏ You have a close blood relative who had a heart attack before age 55 (if father or brother) or before age 65 (if motheror sister)❏ Your blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg or higher, or you have been told that your blood pressure is too high❏ You don’t know what your blood pressure is❏ You smoke, or live or work with people who smoke every day❏ Your total cholesterol level is 240 mg/dL or higher❏ Your HDL (“good”) cholesterol level is less than 35 mg/dL❏ You don’t know your total cholesterol or HDL levels❏ You get less than 30 minutes of physical activity at least 3 days per week❏ You are 20 pounds or more overweightAmerican Stroke Association, a division of AHA, 1999Outdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.Promote Healthier and Safer Lives Stroke is a Brain Attack■ How are strokes treated?Because hemorrhagic (hem- or- adj- ic) strokes, (those caused by bleeding intothe brain) and ischemic (ih-skeem-ic) strokes, (those caused by blockage froma clot or piece of cholesterol plaque (plak)), have different methods of action,each treatment is different. Hemorrhagic strokes must have an obstructionintroduced surgically. Ischemic strokes are treated by removing the obstructionand restoring blood flow. The newer treatments for ischemic strokes aremedications that “break up” blood clots in the brain. This treatment MUST beadministered within the first three hours after symptoms occur. It is thereforeimportant that people at high risk be instructed about the warning signs andmake their families aware of the symptoms as well. TIA’s (transient ischemicattacks) are a temporary loss of brain circulation. TIA’s are often called lightstrokes, mini-strokes, or warning strokes; they may precede a major stroke.These are generally treated with aspirin or other medications that interfere withthe blood’s ability to clot. Nationally, only 3 to 5 percent of people reach thehospital in time for these new treatments. Calling 911 at the first sign of strokeis vitally important.American Stroke Association, a division of American Heart AssociationHere’s how much these risk factors increase your likelihood of stroke:The more risk factors a person has, the greater the risk for stroke.Age – risk more than doubles each decade after age 55Gender – risk is 30% higher for men than for womenRace – African-Americans  have a greater than 60% higher risk than CaucasiansPrevious stroke or TIA increases risk ten timesHypertension (blood pressure uncontrolled over 140 systolic and/or 90 diastolic) raises the risk six timesAtrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) increases  risk 5.6 timesExcessive alcohol use (over 300 gr/week) increases risk four timesCarotid bruit (broo ee), a sound signaling obstruction in the neck artery, increases risk three timesCoronary heart disease, heart attack, or an enlarged left side of the heart, can increase your risk 2.2 timesCongestive heart failure increases the risk 1.7 timesDiabetes increases  risk 1.7 timesSmoking increases risk 1.5 timesResponding to warning signs of stroke:  People at high risk, and their close relatives and friends, must learn to recog-nize the signs of stroke and know which hospital has the ability to rapidly diagnose and use the new thrombolytictreatments for stroke.  The key – stroke symptoms are those that signal that the “message” isn’t getting from thebrain to the body (inability to move a body part) or from the body to the brain (inability to feel a body part).  Becausethe brain is divided, stroke symptoms are likely to be one-sided.■ Sudden numbness or weakness of 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 causeRisk FactorsBrain Attack isa medical emergency-Call 911Outdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.Promote Healthier and Safer Lives Stroke is a Brain AttackBrand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products notmentioned.Publications from Kansas State University are available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced foreducational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Susan George, ARNP, Stroke is a Brain Attack , Kansas State University, April 2000.Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service MF-2456 April 2000It is the policy of Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service that all persons shall have equal opportunity andaccess to its educational programs, services, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability. Kansas StateUniversity is an equal opportunity organization. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas StateUniversity, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Marc A. Johnson, Director.ReferencesHeart and Stroke Facts,  American Heart Association, 1999Stroke / Brain Attack Briefing, a publication of the National Stroke Associa-tion, 1996Controlling High Blood Pressure, Kansas Cooperative Extension Service,Kansas Rural Stroke Prevention Project, K-State Research and ExtensionOffice of Community HealthSusan George, ARNP-C  Box 755, Hays, Kansas 67601Outdated Publication, for historical use. CAUTION: Recommendations in this publication may be obsolete.

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