Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 23)

wasn’t significantly overweight, Giles changed her eating habits to lose the weight. “I gave up junk food,” she says, in addition to adopting a part-time vegetarian diet. High cholesterol, diabetes and atrial fibrillation (an irregular heart rhythm) are risk factors for TIA. Medication may be needed, but high cholesterol and diabetes usually can be controlled through diet and exercise. Regular checkups and screenings are important to stay on track. Stress may be another factor in managing high blood pressure. Researchers are debating its influence, but Giles says she believes she needed to better manage stress to better manage her health. She changed careers and says she puts less pressure on herself than she did before. 6 Manage Related HealtH Conditions “If you smoke you should stop, because it can reduce your risk of stroke substantially,” Alberts says. There are many programs and strategies to help you kick the habit, which is a smart move for every aspect of your health. 7 Quit sMoking Know the Symptoms and Don’t Delay As with a stroke, time is of the essence in seeking medical treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA). So knowing the symptoms before they happen is essential. “Most TIAs produce symptoms that are very similar to those of a stroke, but they typically go away in a few minutes or hours,” says Theresa Dorfling, cardiology manager at Gwinnett Medical Center. The most common symptoms include sudden onset of: • Vertigo or dizziness • Muscle weakness of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side • Numbness or tingling on one side of the body • Loss of vision or other vision disturbances • Trouble speaking, writing or reading • Confusion or loss of memory • Difficulty recognizing objects or people • Changes in senses such as hearing or touch • Loss of bladder or bowel control Even if your symptoms seem to go away, a TIA is a medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if you or anyone else is experiencing these symptoms. Positive CHanges foR life Other risk factors for stroke include being older than 55 and being African American. You can’t change these facts or your family history. But if you have had a TIA, you can take charge of your life to reduce your risk. “I’m in good health today,” Giles says. “I don’t have to live my family history. It’s very empowering to know that I can take proactive steps to take control of my health and my future.” Online photography by thinkstock Resources to Help You Understand Your Heart Condition For more information on heart conditions, visit gmcheart.com and click the “Patient Education” link on the left. Vim & Vigor • Sum mer 2012 23 http://www.gmcheart.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Good as New
With Open Hearts
The Breakfast Club
Arthritis Answers
A TV Guide to Radiology
Take Aim
It Might NOT Be Cancer
Colin Firth
Step Up to the Plate
Life After Cancer
Get Dad to the Doc
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Half the Man He Was
Have a Happy Birth Day
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2012 - Gwinnett Medical Center