5-24-05

Each year about 750,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke and about 160,000 people die from the stroke. But, it is preventable if precautions are taken.

Stroke is our nation's number three killer and a leading cause of long-term disability. A stroke is damage to the brain, caused by either a blood clot or bleeding in the brain says Dr. Joni Clark, associate professor of neurology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. She describes the hemorrhagic stroke, which accounts for about fifteen percent of strokes.

SOUND BITE: "A hemorrhagic stroke means there’s been bleeding in the brain and it is usually due to rupture of a blood vessel or an underlying vascular malformation or an aneurysm. And that differs from ischemic stroke, which is due to lack of blood flow."

Dr. Clark says the most common risk factor for a hemorrhagic stroke is high blood pressure. This type of stroke can also be caused by a tangle of abnormal blood vessels that rupture. Symptoms for this type of stroke include a severe headache, nausea, vomiting, and even unconsciousness. Dr. Clark offers advice for someone experiencing stroke symptoms:

SOUND BITE: " . . . the best advice is to call 911 and be evaluated at the emergency room as soon as possible, like the ischemic stroke patients. And you wouldn’t really probably be able to know the difference. The only thing with a subarachnoid hemorrhage – usually patients will have onset of a very, very severe headache . . ."

Dr. Clark says the best way to prevent strokes is get regular check ups with a family doctor and make sure blood pressure is controlled by diet or medication.