Myths About Stroke
Myth or Fact? Strokes are not as serious as heart attacks?
Myth or Fact? There is no way to prevent a stroke?
Myth or Fact? Women are not at risk for strokes?
Myth or Fact? Once a person has had a stroke there is little chance for recovery.
Myth or Fact? Strokes are accompanied by severe headaches.
Myth or Fact? Strokes don't happen to young or middle aged people.
Myth or Fact? There are no warning signs prior to a stroke.
Strokes are not as serious as heart attacks?
Myth:
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is cut off causing death or brain damage.
A serious stroke can be fatal or can severely limit a person's ability to live an independent and active life. Some data indicate that strokes are the leading cause for people being placed in long term care facilities. Following a mild stroke, normal activities may be possible but recovery may require considerable time and therapy.
Stroke is one of the most dreaded diseases because of the significant disabilities and the heavy social and psychological demands on both survivor and caregivers. This is why many doctors say that a stroke produces two patients-the actual stroke victim and the caregiver!
For the first time in decades, the number of deaths attributable to stroke is on the rise in Canada. The rate of hospitalization for stroke is over 20 times higher for those 65 and over, as compared to those under 65. With our aging population, stroke will become an increasing burden.
There is no way to prevent a stroke?
Myth:
Stroke or "brain attack" is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems
There are some risk factors such as age and family history that cannot be changed, but there are many factors that can reduce the risk of stroke. With proper attention to controllable stroke risk factors, the impact of uncontrollable factors can be greatly reduced. A healthy lifestyle is the best protection against stroke.
To reduce your risk of stroke, the following healthy lifestyle changes are recommended:
- If your blood pressure is too high, talk to your doctor about how to reduce it.
- Quit smoking and avoid exposure to second-hand smoke.
- If you have diabetes, keep it under control with diet and prescribed medication.
- Reduce your risk of heart disease by reducing high blood levels of cholesterol and avoiding saturated fats.
- Keep physically active.
- Reduce excess weight or maintain a healthy weight.
- If you use alcohol, follow the low risk drinking guidelines.
Women are not at risk for strokes?
Myth:
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death for Canadian women. One quarter of women who have a stroke in a given year are actually under the age of 65
- Almost 60% of the 50,000 strokes in Canada each year affect women.
- A greater percentage of women than men die from stroke. In 1999, the last year for which statistics are available, 8.5% of all female deaths in Canada were as a result of stroke compared to 5.6% for men.
- In 1999, a total of 9,038 women died in Canada as a result of stroke.
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.
Although risk factors for men and women are basically the same - a family history of stroke, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and sedentary lifestyle - some additional risk factors affect only women. A woman's risk of stroke increases during pregnancy when her blood pressure may go up. A young woman who has migraines and uses oral contraceptives may also be at greater risk for stroke than someone who does not use the pill.
Once a person has had a stroke there is little chance for recovery.
Myth:
There are 3 significant ways that the impact of stroke can be reversed:
1) Immediate medical attention is critical.
2) A full rehabilitation using a team approach increases a patient's recovery from stroke.
3) Secondary prevention can prevent a subsequent stroke.
Immediate medical attention is critical.
If a clot caused the stroke, there is a 3-hour window during which access to certain medications can reverse the effect of the stroke. Ideally, a stroke victim should be treated within the hour with a clot-busting drug called tPA, the only approved treatment for acute stroke. One study found the average arrival time at the hospital for women with stroke was 13 hours, and for men the average was 17 hours.
Even patients who are not eligible for tPA will benefit from fast action to emergency care. ‘Regardless of the type of stoke, time is brain. Rapid and appropriate emergency management during the first few hours after a stroke can substantially improve health outcomes.' Source: Best Practice Guidelines for Stroke Care, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, 2003
Know the warning signs of stroke. Seek immediate medical attention if the warning signs of stroke occur.
Call 911 or your emergency medical services.
A full rehabilitation using a team approach increases a patient's recovery from stroke.
Studies that investigate the brains of stroke survivors are demonstrating that the brain can remodel and reorganize to take over the areas of the injured brain after the stroke. Significant improvements are being found even 5-14 years post-stroke.
Intensive rehabilitation and active learning experiences can modify the brain in stroke survivors.
Rehabilitation individualized to the patient's needs and goals can maximize recovery.
Secondary prevention can prevent a subsequent stroke.
Approximately 25% of stroke survivors experience a recurrent stroke within 5 years.
Although the risk of recurrent stroke is highest immediately after a stroke, 33% (one-third) experience a second stroke within 2 years. The risk of severe disability and death increases with each recurrent stroke.
Medical management may involve appropriate management of conditions such as high blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes can include increased activity, maintenance of a healthy weight and smoking cessation.
Strokes are accompanied by severe headaches.
Myth:In most cases, strokes cause no pain.
Signs of stroke include:
- Weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of the body
- Dimness or loss of vision, particularly in one eye
- Difficulty speaking or trouble understanding speech
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
- Unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness or sudden falls, particularly with any of the other signs.
When your brain is not receiving enough oxygen, it sends clues to your body that a problem exists. Every minute counts! Studies show that brain damage begins from the moment a stroke starts; scientists now know that there is a very short window of opportunity for treatment of the most common form of stroke. Call 911 immediately if you experience the signs of stroke.
Strokes don't happen to young or middle aged people.
Myth:
One quarter of strokes occur among Canadians under 65 years of age
There are no warning signs prior to a stroke.
Myth:
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are warning signs of increased risk for a more devastating stroke.
For most adults, the risk of having a stroke is about 1% per year. For someone who has had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), the risk is much higher. It is very important that stroke survivors take action to reduce their risk of having another stroke.
While the causes and symptoms of stroke and transient ischemic attacks are the same, the blockage of blood flow in a TIA is only temporary and the symptoms from a TIA last for less than 24 hours. Half of those who experience TIAs find that symptoms are resolved within 30 minutes. In a TIA, no permanent damage to the brain occurs.
People with symptoms of TIA are at a higher risk for stroke: 5% will have a stroke within 48 hours, 8% within one month, 12% within one year and up to 30% will have a stroke within five years.
Source: Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario - Improving Stroke Care in Ontario
