How can you tell if
it’s a stroke?
One way is to know that symptoms start
suddenly
—and you need to react just as fast. Call
911 right away if you or someone nearby displays
any of these signs:
•
Sudden
numbness or weakness of the face,
arm, or leg
•
Sudden
confusion or trouble speaking
or understanding
•
Sudden
trouble seeing in one or both eyes
•
Sudden
trouble walking or loss of balance
or coordination
•
Sudden
severe headache with no known cause
A clot-busting medication can often help people
recover their abilities after a stroke. However,
it must be given within three hours of the first
symptom to work best. So check the time and
remember when symptoms began.
References: See page 7
Stroke and heart disease are cruel cousins.
These closely related conditions share common risk factors and
often an underlying cause—atherosclerosis, the hardening of
arteries that happens when cholesterol and other substances in
the blood combine to form plaque on artery walls.
These fatty deposits make it hard for blood to get through
an artery. If a deposit ruptures, a clot can form and block
blood supply to the heart (causing a heart attack) or the brain
(a stroke).
Since coronary heart disease and stroke share common risks,
having heart disease or its risk factors can increase your chances
of stroke, and vice versa.
However, you can help protect against stroke. Talk to your
doctor for advice about addressing these heart disease risks:
Cholesterol problems.
A high level of low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol is bad news because it helps form plaque in
arteries. A low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)—the
good kind of cholesterol—is risky because HDL carries excess
cholesterol from arteries.
High blood pressure.
Elevated blood pressure strains the
heart and harms the lining of blood vessels, contributing
to atherosclerosis.
Smoking.
Smoking increases heart disease and stroke risks. It
can increase the likelihood of a blood clot and damage to the
artery walls.
Too much weight, too little exercise.
Excess weight or lack of
exercise can lead to stroke risks, such as cholesterol and blood
pressure problems or diabetes.
Other kinds of heart problems also increase your stroke risk.
One such condition is an abnormal heartbeat or atrial
fibrillation (AF). In AF, clots that form in the heart can travel
to the brain.
References: See page 7
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
What’s the stroke-
heart
connection?
What you can do to prevent stroke
Work with your doctor to control heart disease and stroke risk factors and to
treat any heart condition you have. Be in the know on how you can ward off
stroke through lifestyle modifications. Scan the QR code and click “Learning” for
interactive content on cooking, eating, and exercising. Click “Weight Management”
to learn about nutrition therapy. Click “Quit Smoking” if you need help breaking a
risky habit.
6
Total Fitness | spring 2014 |
selecthealth.org
heart to heart
