Town of West Boylston, MA - May is Stroke Awareness Month

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the No.1 cause of adult disability. According to the National Stroke Association, more than 750,000 Americans have a new or recurring stroke every year, and incidence is on the rise. It is estimated that 5.4 million (or 1 in 55) Americans are living with the effects of stroke at any given time.

There are several events happening in West Boylston regarding strokes and stroke awareness and prevention. We kick off our month with a program on Women & Cardiovascular Disease with Catherine Nash of the Women's Health Network. This program will be on May 6th at 1:00 p.m. The next event will be with Captain Dean Kochanowski of the West Boylston Fire Department who will give a talk on Stroke Prevention and Symptoms of Strokes. Both of these events will be held at the Council on Aging office at 127 Hartwell Street.

A stroke or "brain attack" occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery (a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body) or a blood vessel (a tube through which the blood moves through the body) breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain are lost. These abilities include speech, movement and memory. How a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor problems such as weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be paralyzed on one side or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.

Anyone can have a stroke. But your chances for having a stroke increase if you meet certain criteria. Some of these criteria, called risk factors, are beyond your control -- such as being over age 55, being male, being African American, Hispanic or Asian/Pacific Islander, or having a family history of stroke. Other stroke risk factors are controllable.

Previous stroke, previous episode of transient ischemic attack or "TIA," high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation and carotid artery disease. These medical risk factors can be controlled. Talk with your doctor about what will work best for you.

Smoking, being overweight and drinking too much alcohol. You can control these lifestyle risk factors by quitting smoking, exercising regularly, watching what and how much you eat and limiting alcohol consumption.

1. Know your blood pressure. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep it under control. High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke. Have your blood pressure checked at least once each year - more often if you have a history of high blood pressure. Consult your doctor if the higher number (your systolic blood pressure) is usually about 135 or if the lower number (your diastolic blood pressure) is usually over 85.

2. Find out if you have atrial fibrillation (also called AF). If you have AF, work with your doctor to manage it. Atrial fibrillation can cause blood to collect in the chambers of your heart. This blood can form clots and cause a stroke. Your doctor can detect AF by carefully checking your pulse.

3. If you smoke, stop. Smoking doubles the risk for stroke. If you stop smoking today, your risk for stroke will begin to decrease.

4. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Drinking a glass of wine or beer or one drink each day may lower your risk for stroke (provided that there is no other medical reason you should avoid alcohol). Remember that alcohol is a drug - it can interact with other drugs you are taking, and alcohol is harmful if taken in large doses. If you don't drink, don't start.

5. Know your cholesterol number. If it is high, work with your doctor to control it. Lowering your cholesterol may reduce your risk for stroke. High cholesterol can also indirectly increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk of heart disease - an important stroke risk factor. Often times, high cholesterol can be controlled with diet and exercise; some individuals may require medication.

6. If you are diabetic, follow your doctor's recommendations carefully to control your diabetes. Having diabetes puts you at an increased risk for stroke. Your doctor can prescribe a nutrition program, lifestyle changes and medicine that can help control your diabetes.

7. Include exercise in the activities you enjoy in your daily routine. A brisk walk, swim or other exercise activity for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways, and may reduce your risk for stroke.

8. Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet. By cutting down on sodium and fat in your diet, you may be able to lower your blood pressure and, most importantly, lower your risk for stroke.

9. Ask your doctor if you have circulation problems. If so, work with your doctor to control them. Fatty deposits can block the arteries which carry blood from your heart to your brain. This kind of blockage can cause stroke. Sickle cell disease, severe anemia, or other diseases can cause stroke if left untreated.

Few Americans know the symptoms of stroke. Learning them - and knowing what to do when they occur - could save your life.

Call 911 if you see or have any of these symptoms. Treatment can be more effective if given early on. Every minute counts!

Special note: If symptoms appear for only a very short period of time and then disappear, it could mean a Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA. It's important to call 911 whenever you experience any stroke symptom. While TIA's are not strokes, they indicate serious underlying stroke risks and are a powerful warning that a full stroke may soon follow.

Getting emergency medical treatment is important for several reasons: Only a doctor can tell for sure if you are having a stroke or a TIA. And, if you are having a stroke, emergency medical treatment could save your life and greatly improve your chances for successful rehabilitation and recovery. If you are having a TIA, your doctor will evaluate and treat the underlying causes. Following you doctor's orders for medication and treatment can help reduce your risk of having a stroke.