Stroke does not discriminate; it can strike anyone, anytime, anywhere
- all races - infants and older adults - you and me - celebrities. With
795,000 stroke cases a year in the U.S., chances are you know somebody
that has suffered a stroke - a loved one, friend, neighbor, colleague,
or your favorite celebrity. Some risk factors are controllable, and if
modified will result in a significant decrease in the incidence of
stroke according to the Dr. Jeffrey Thomas Stroke Shield Foundation
(SSF). The SSF is promoting the message Technology Against Stroke this May in recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month.
Celebrity Stroke Connection
Dick
Clark, Bob Barker, Candice Bergen, Peter Boyle, Tedy Bruschi, James
Cagney, Charlie Daniels, Kirk Douglas, James Garner, Hugh Hefner, Burt
Lancaster, and Samantha Morton are among the famous people who survived a
stroke. Joe Biden, Terri Garr, Quincy Jones, Bret Michaels, Patricia
Neal, Della Reese, Sharon Stone, and Neil Young all survived a cerebral
aneurysm or hemorrhagic stroke.
"While age, race, and family
history cannot be altered, most stroke risk factors can be modified or
treated medically. Many stroke risk factors increase the probability of
developing a host of other serious diseases including cancer, heart
disease, and type 2 diabetes, adding to the grave socioeconomic and
personal health burden placed on society," said Jeffrey E. Thomas, M.D.,
F.A.A.N.S., F.A.C.S., founder and chairman of the SSF.
Technology Against Stroke
"Great
strides have been made in minimally invasive treatment of stroke
through endovascular interventions, but little progress has been made in
prevention," said Dr. Thomas. Scalable digital technologies utilizing
iPhone and other platforms need to be developed and made widely
accessible/affordable to help prevent stroke. The apps would incorporate
technology to enable the analysis and ongoing modification of stroke
risk factors in high-risk individuals. Ultimately, the SSF aims to
minimize the necessity for emergency intervention through its grant
program that will fund awards to researchers working on promising,
cutting-edge stroke prevention modalities.
Stroke Symptoms
The
range and severity of early stroke symptoms vary considerably, but they
share the common characteristic of being sudden. Warning signs may
include some or all of the following symptoms: Dizziness, nausea, or
vomiting; unusually severe headache; confusion, disorientation or memory
loss; numbness, weakness in an arm, leg or the face, especially on one
side; abnormal or slurred speech; difficulty with comprehension; loss of
vision or difficulty seeing; and loss of balance, coordination, or the
ability to walk.
Controllable Stroke Risk Factors
Diabetes:
The disease affects 25.8 million people of all ages or 8.3 percent of
the U.S. population. Of those, a staggering 7 million cases are
undiagnosed and therefore untreated, leading to a myriad of health
implications. While type 1 diabetes (juvenile or early adult onset) is
not preventable, studies estimate that 58-71 percent of type 2 diabetes
can be prevented through lifestyle intervention.
Obesity: More
than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7 percent) and an estimated 17
percent of children/adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese, equating to
about 86 million obese people based on 2011 U.S. census population
estimates.
Hypertension: An estimated 76.4
million people age 20 and older have high blood pressure and according
to 2005-2008 data, more than 52 percent of cases are uncontrolled.
According to 2010 mortality data, 26,577 deaths were attributed to
essential hypertension.
Cigarette/tobacco smoking:
The leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., an estimated 19.3
percent or 45.3 million adults smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smokers have
double the risk of stroke as non-smokers and cigar/pipe smokers have a
30 percent increased risk.
Alcohol: While studies
are not conclusive, most healthcare professionals agree that drinking
more than one to two drinks everyday can increase stroke risk.
Statistics indicate that nearly 1 out of 4 Americans admitted to
hospitals have alcohol problems or are undiagnosed alcoholics.
Heart disease (atrial fibrillation, valve disease):
Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in the U.S.
People with atrial fibrillation have a five-fold increase of stroke
risk, with about 35 percent of all Afib patients suffering a stroke
during their lifetime. In 2005, an estimated 5.2 million adults in the
U.S. were diagnosed with aortic valve disease.
Hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol levels): About one in every six adults or 16.3 percent of the U.S. adult population has high total cholesterol.
Previous stroke: Of
the 795,000 annual cases, 185,000 are recurrent attacks. Experiencing a
previous stroke is a very serious indicator and puts one at a
heightened risk of suffering a subsequent attack.
Stroke Shield Foundation (SSF) Prevention Tips
- If you have diabetes, control your blood glucose, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure
- Modify your diet and participate in regular exercise - under medical supervision if you are severely overweight
- Control hypertension through sodium reduction, diet modification, stress reduction, exercise, and/or medication
- Quit smoking and limit alcohol intake
- If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or valve disease, control it through medication, regular monitoring, and surgery if warranted
- Control your cholesterol levels through diet modification and/or medication
- Know the warning signs of stroke and call 911 immediately if stroke is suspected
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