More than likely, you may know someone who has suffered a stroke. In fact, stroke is the number three cause of death and the No. 1 cause of adult disability in America! Statistics also reveal that one in five women and one in six men will have a stroke before they die. It’s more important than ever to know the risks, what can be done to avoid a stroke and recognize the warning signs.

What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or blocked artery, or when an artery in the brain bursts.

“Progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries increases stroke risk. Such damage results from uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and smoking,” says James Gebel, MD, board-certified vascular neurologist from the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute at Lakewood Hospital.

What are the risk factors?
According to Dr. Gebel, the greatest risk for stroke is uncontrolled hypertension or high blood pressure. Blood pressure medication is the best way to eliminate the risk of stroke due to hypertension, but regular exercise and dietary changes also help.

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol, Dr. Gebel recommends taking prescribed cholesterol lowering medication and limiting intake of saturated fat.

Furthermore, it’s important to know that smoking triples your risk of stroke, heart attack and, surprisingly, brain aneurysms – a fact unknown to most people. Even if you have smoked for years, you can still reduce your risk by quitting now.

If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor about successfully managing your blood sugar. High blood sugar increases the risk of stroke and, consequently, worsens the severity of a stroke if you have one.

It is also important to discuss your risks with your doctor if you have heart disease or an irregular heart beat, called atrial fibrillation.

If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a stroke, it is crucial to dial 911 immediately, even if symptoms resolve. Primary Stroke Centers, such as Lakewood Hospital, are equipped to assess, diagnose and treat each stroke patient within three hours of the onset of their symptoms.

Know the Warning Signs of Stroke

Warning signs of stroke include: sudden unexplained dizziness, sudden slurred speech or inability to speak; sudden severe headache with no known cause; sudden weakness or numbness on the face on one side of body & sudden loss of or double vision.

The National Stoke Association uses the following information to get people to act faster in recognizing symptoms and getting help.

It is recommended to think “F.A.S.T.”:

F – FACE: Ask person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A – ARM: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S – SPEECH: Ask the person to speak a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T – TIME: If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Click here to order your FREE stroke information kit!

Dr. James Gebel is a Cleveland Clinic board-certified vascular neurologist and is currently seeing patients at the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute at Lakewood Hospital. His special medical interests include strokes and cerebrovascular diseases of all types, including brain aneurysms and hemorrhages. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gebel, please call 216.529.7110.