Stroke Is the Third Leading Cause of Death

Stroke sometimes referred to as “Brain Attack,” is the third leading cause of death in Americans. It is also a major cause of disability. The consequences of stroke can lead to permanent loss of independence. Fortunately, with early detection of certain risk factors many strokes can be prevented.
Stroke can occur when the blood flow to the brain, or within the brain, becomes blocked with either plaque or blood clot. This is known as ischemic stroke. Stroke can also occur when bleeding occurs within the brain, known as hemorrhagic stroke.
One of the leading causes of ischemic stroke is plaque build up causing blockage in the main arteries to the brain, the carotid arteries. There are two carotid arteries that carry oxygenated blood from the heart, through the neck to the brain. Healthy carotid arteries have a smooth inner surface that allows blood to flow freely within them.
When plaque builds up within the arteries and they become narrow, small pieces of plaque or blood clot can break off and travel to the brain, causing a stroke. In some cases, the carotid arteries themselves can become completely blocked, interrupting blood flow to a larger area of the brain.
In many cases, diseased carotid arteries are silent until they either cause a major stroke or are diagnosed by a physician. However, in some cases many individuals have warning symptoms, called transient ischemic attacks (TIA).
TIA also known as mini-stroke, can cause a variety of temporary neurological deficits. These usually last a few minutes or hours, and should be treated as a serious medical condition, since they are often predictors of future stroke.
Some of the symptoms of stroke are paralysis, weakness or numbness of a body part, loss of coordination, inability to speak clearly, sudden onset of confusion, cognitive difficulties or blindness in one eye.
The most common risk factors for stroke are: hypertension (high blood pressure), age, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, irregular heartbeat, family history of cardiovascular disease. Some individuals will not have any of these known risk factors.
Blocks in the carotid arteries can easily be diagnosed with Duplex ultrasound testing. This is a painless noninvasive test that can accurately determine whether there is a significant plaque in the carotid arteries and quantify the amount of blockage.
If you have had a stroke or mini-stroke, have previously been diagnosed with carotid artery blockage, or have risk factors, a vascular surgeon to determine if you are at increased risk for stroke should evaluate you.
Dr. Stephen Gosin, and Dr. Jeffrey Gosin, at Jersey Shore Center for Vascular Health 442 Bethel Road, Somers Point, NJ 08244.