Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - GMC - 21

up to 24 hours, Goldstein says symptoms typically resolve within minutes.

What Are the
Symptoms?

Depending on what part of the brain
is affected, a person experiencing TIA
might have balance problems, weakness or numbness in the legs or arms,
blurred vision, facial drooping or difficulty speaking. "It may be one symptom or a combination, but you should
still seek treatment immediately,"
Goldstein says.

If It's Temporary, Why
Go to the Hospital?

Even if symptoms seem to pass quickly,
don't skip the emergency department
trip. According to the National Stroke
Association, 40 percent of TIA sufferers go on to have a stroke, and nearly
half of all strokes occur within the first
few days after a TIA.
"At first, you don't know if it's going
to become a full-fledged stroke, and
the longer brain cells go without blood
and oxygen, the higher the chance of
permanent damage," Goldstein says.
Certain medications, such as clot dissolvers, need to be given right away,
ideally within three hours of symptoms
appearing. "We can intervene with
medications or even mechanically, to
pull the clot out, but this has to be done
relatively quickly," Goldstein adds.
"The warning sign can be a really
good thing," he says, "because it gives
us the opportunity to prevent a full
stroke from occurring." The bottom
line? If you're having signs of a TIA or
stroke, go to an emergency department
right away.

What Can Doctors Do?

After you're admitted, you'll probably
have bloodwork and a blood pressure
screening. A TIA can be an indicator
of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, so you'll
be checked for these risk factors. In

some cases, fast-acting medicines called
thrombolytic agents are given right away
to help dissolve possible blood clots.
One cardiac condition, atrial fibrillation, refers to an irregular heartbeat that
puts people at an especially high risk
of having a stroke; AFib can be treated
with prescription blood thinners to help
reduce the chance of future attacks.
Diagnostic tests such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain
can help discover permanent brain damage. Some physicians may also order
imaging of the carotid arteries, found on
the sides of the neck; the narrowing of
these and the subsequent plaque buildup
inside them can lead to TIAs. If issues
with a carotid artery are found, they can
be corrected with a surgical procedure.

Can I Prevent a TIA?

You can. If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, poorly controlled
blood sugar or other chronic health
issues, seek treatment. Simple lifestyle
changes also make a big difference.
3 Stop smoking. "Smoking doubles
your risk for stroke, and secondhand
smoke exposure poses almost as much
risk," Goldstein says.
3 Eat smartly. Goldstein suggests
an eating plan that's rich in fruits and
vegetables, high in potassium and low
in sodium and saturated fats. Both the
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop
Hypertension) diet and Mediterraneanstyle eating plans have been associated
with lower stroke risk.

3 Exercise and lose weight. "Even
just 30 minutes of brisk walking most
days of the week can reduce your stroke
risk," says Goldstein, who also recommends maintaining a BMI of 25 or less.
3 Limit or avoid alcohol. The journal
Stroke found that in middle age, having
more than two daily drinks may raise
stroke risk as much as high blood pressure and diabetes do. ■

Signs of
Stroke
Worried a loved one is having a TIA
(transient ischemic attack) or a fullfledged stroke? "Remember the acronym
BE FAST," says Susan Gaunt, RN, GMC's
stroke program coordinator.
Balance. Is the person having trouble
walking or standing? Is there numbness
or weakness in one leg?
Eyes. Is there sudden loss of vision in
one or both eyes? Is there double vision?
Face. Can the person smile evenly, or
does one side of the mouth droop?
Arms. Ask the person to hold up
both arms in front of them. If he or she
is having a stroke or a TIA, one arm may
drift down or be weaker than the other.
Speech. Is the person mixing up
words or slurring them? Can he or she
repeat a short sentence such as, "The
sky is blue in Texas"?
Timing. Note exactly when you first
saw symptoms and call 911 immediately
if you spot any of the above signs.

WEBSITE

How Well Do You Know Stroke?
Knowing the key signs and symptoms of stroke is just the beginning. Put your
knowledge to the test and make sure you're ready in the event of a stroke by
visiting everydaywellness.org/stroke.

SUMME R 2019

http://www.everydaywellness.org/stroke

Vim & Vigor - Summer 2019 - GMC

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