| FACTOIDS
When cholesterol levels are high, plaque can form in the arteries,
resulting in high blood pressure, a blood clot or stroke.
Top Points:
· Nearly 700,000 Americans have a stroke each year.
· Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United
States.
· Stroke is a type of cardiovascular disease.
· A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen
and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked by a blood clot
or some other particle. When that happens, part of the brain cannot
get the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die.
· Blood clots usually form in arteries narrowed by fatty
deposits called plaque – a result of high cholesterol.
· About 34.5 million American adults have cholesterol levels
of 240 mg/dL or higher – the point at which it becomes a major
risk factor for a stroke.
· The College of American Pathologists provides a free Internet-based
service that helps remind men and women to schedule annual health
screenings, such as a cholesterol test.
· One quick visit to www.MyHealthTestReminder.com
allows patients to select the day they would like to schedule their
cholesterol test. On the chosen date, an e-mail will be sent reminding
the patient to call a doctor or other health care provider and schedule
an appointment.
As a pathologist, I conduct laboratory tests to diagnose potential
health problems that can lead to stroke. For example, a simple blood
test can determine if a patient’s blood cholesterol level
is too high. Stroke prevention can be managed through dietary changes,
exercise, weight loss, and, in some cases, medication.
-OR-
· As a pathologist, I know that having a regular cholesterol
screening test is one of the most important things a person can
do to help reduce the risk of having a stroke.
· More than 150,000 of the people who experience a stroke
die.
· Of the almost 5.5 million U.S. stroke survivors, many
of them live with stroke-related disabilities.
· Women account for more than 6 in 10 stroke deaths.
· Nearly 50 percent of stroke deaths occur out of the hospital.
· Pathologists, physicians who study tissues and cells to
identify and diagnose disease, conduct laboratory tests to diagnose
potential health problems that can result in stroke. For example,
high cholesterol levels contribute to the formation of plaque in
the arteries, and lead to stroke.
·Risk factors beyond your control are:
Age—The chance of having a stroke more than doubles each decade
of life after 55.
Race—African-Americans are more likely to have strokes than
other ethnic groups because they also are more likely to have high
blood pressure, diabetes and/or heart attacks.
Heredity—The chance of a stroke is greater in people with
a family history.
Prior stroke or heart attack.
Recent studies suggest risk of stroke increases in women during
pregnancy and six weeks following childbirth.
· Other risk factors, include:
High Blood Pressure
Tobacco Use
Diabetes
Carotid, artery or other heart disease
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
Certain blood disorders
·Many strokes can be prevented through lifestyle
changes. To keep risk factors in check:
Monitor and treat high blood pressure. This is the single most changeable
risk factor for stroke. Studies show that by lowering your blood
pressure by just five points you can reduce the risk of stroke by
42 percent.
Control cholesterol problems. Because several of the same factors
that cause heart attacks (high blood pressure, diabetes) also cause
strokes, controlling your diet and cholesterol levels are important
prevention tools.
Quit smoking.
Drink moderately. Although moderate drinking (one alcoholic drink
a day for women, two for men) has been shown to decrease the risk
of stroke, heavy drinking raises the risk of high blood pressure
and decreases blood flow to the brain.
Increase physical activity.
Do not abuse drugs. Certain kinds of drug abuse, especially cocaine
abuse, have been linked to strokes.
· According to a recent study published in Stroke magazine
on March 30, 2006, stroke warnings go unheeded by nearly half of
the people who experience them.
·Stroke warning signs include:
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of body
Sudden dimness or loss of vision, especially in one eye
Loss of speech, trouble talking, or understanding speech
Sudden, severe headaches with no apparent cause
Unexplained dizziness
· The warning signs may be temporary and only last a few
minutes. This may be due to a “mini stroke” called a
transient ischemic attack (TIA). TIAs are extremely important indicators
of an impending stroke.
· If you or someone you’re with experiences any of
the warning signs, call 9-1-1 to get medical attention immediately.
Treatment is most effective when received within the first three
hours of symptoms.
Updated 8/15/2006
Reference:
American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
2 American Heart Association -www.american heart.org
3 American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
4 American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
5 American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
6 American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
7 http://www.strokecenter.org/pat/stats.htm
8 American Heart Association -www.americanheart.org
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