Today's column was provided by Joan Mesler, R.N., stroke program coordinator at Carolinas Medical Center--NorthEast in Concord.
Who am I?
I do not care who you are, how much money you make or where you live.
I will hurt you. I will disable you. I will take away your independence.
I will confine you to your bed. I may even kill you.
I am a stroke.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States becomes a victim of stroke. Every 3.1 minutes, a stroke-related death occurs.
Stroke is the third-leading cause of death and the No. 1 cause of adult disability in the U.S. Each year more than 780,000 Americans suffer strokes.
The stroke belt
A stroke is a devastating, life-changing event that can happen to anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.North Carolina is part of an eight- to 12-state region that makes up what is known as the "Stroke Belt." Death rates in these areas are significantly higher than in the rest of the country.
As if that weren't enough, North Carolina is also one of the five states that form the "Stroke Buckle." Death rates in this area are double those in the rest of the nation.
In Cabarrus County, the age-adjusted death rate from stroke for the five-year period 2002-06 was 59.4 deaths per 100,000 people.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when an area of the brain becomes deprived of blood and oxygen, resulting in irreversible tissue damage.
Eighty percent of strokes are caused either by a blood clot in the brain or by a gradual buildup of plaque or cholesterol that causes the arteries to become narrow.
Twenty percent of strokes are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel that causes bleeding in or around the brain.
Risk factors for stroke are based on heredity, natural processes and lifestyle. Many risk factors for stroke can be changed or managed; others cannot.
The following risk factors can be changed, treated or medically managed:
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
• Diabetes (blood sugar problems).
• Heart disease.
• Cigarette smoking.
• History of high cholesterol.
• Lack of exercise.
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Drug abuse.
• Abnormal heart rhythm.
• Sleep apnea.
Risk factors for stroke that cannot be changed:
• Age. For each decade of life after age 55, the chance of having a stroke more than doubles.
• Race. African Americans have a much higher risk of death and disability from a stroke than Caucasians, in part because the African American population has a greater incidence of high blood pressure.
• Gender. Stroke occurs more in men, but more women die from stroke.
• History of prior stroke.
• Heredity/genetics. The chance for stroke is greater in people who have a family history of stroke.
Quick action is critical
During a stroke, every minute counts. That is why it is important to recognize when a stroke is occurring.Research shows that there is a major lack of public awareness of stroke symptoms. More than 68 percent of Americans cannot name the most common warning signs of stroke.
So take note; the following are the most common warning signs:
• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, or difficulty speaking or understanding.
• Sudden blurred vision or loss of vision in one or both eyes.
• Sudden dizziness or loss of balance.
• Sudden problems with coordination, movement or walking.
• Sudden severe headache without a known cause.
Not all of the above warning signs may occur with each stroke. Do not ignore any of the warning signs. Take action even if they go away.
If you or someone you know experiences any of the above symptoms, call 911 immediately.
For more information about stroke, call 888-478-7653 toll-free or go to the American Stroke Association Web site, www.strokeassociation.org.
Locally, you can contact Joan Mesler, coordinator of the stroke program at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord, 704-403-2567 or jmesler@northeastmedical.org.
Goff
