Just the word “stroke” can strike fear in our hearts. It is easy and somewhat comforting to dismiss weird symptoms that may be fleeting — dizziness, severe headache and vision disruption, all of which happen suddenly but may disappear just as quickly.
As tempting as it is to explain away or to blame on stress, please don’t.
The National Institutes on Aging caution symptoms lasting only a few minutes could be caused by a transient ischemic attack, or TIA, also called a mini-stroke. This is still an emergency, and calling 911 is the best course of action. When a TIA is left untreated, it could be followed up by a major stroke.
If you have any of these symptoms, even if they vanish after a few minutes, call 911 immediately:
— Sudden weakness
— Paralysis (an inability to move) or numbness of the face, arms or legs, especially on one side of the body
— Confusion
— Trouble speaking or understanding speech
— Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
— Problems breathing
— Dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, and unexplained falls
— Loss of consciousness
— Sudden and severe headache
Just remember to think F.A.S.T.: Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time to call 911.
The National Institutes on Aging offer advice to reduce your risk, even if you are in perfect health:
— Keep your blood pressure under control and know your numbers. Have it checked often; if it’s high, follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter.
— If you smoke, stop. It is never too late to give up the habit. My grandmother quit at 87 and lived nearly 10 more years. It can be done.
— If your cholesterol is high, take it seriously and work to lower it. Cholesterol is a type of fat found in the blood that can build up on artery walls. This fat can block blood flow and lead to a stroke.
— Uncontrolled or untreated diabetes can damage blood vessels, which can lead to narrowing of the arteries and again can lead to stroke.
The old standbys of eating healthy foods low in saturated fats and exercising apply as well.
For information on stroke, visit strokeassociation.org.
Carol Higgins Taylor, an advocate for seniors and owner of Bryant Street Public Relations in Bangor, can be reached at 4chtaylor@gmail.com.