Avoiding and recognizing strokes By Loretta Kaes One of the most dreaded words in our language is"stroke."In the United States alone, strokes are the No.1 cause of adult disability and the third-leading cause of death,exceeded only by heart disease and cancer.Every year about 700,000Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke and approximately 150,000 people die from them. The encouraging development is that many fewerAmericans now die of strokes than they did 20 or 30 years ago because fewer people smoke or overindulge in alcohol or drugs,and more people exercise, eat healthy,and watch their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But as tragic as the consequences of a stroke are, the real tragedy is that 80 percent of strokes are preventable,according to theAmerican StrokeAssociation. Understanding how and why strokes happen is the critical first step in preventing them,and also is a major factor in minimizing the damage if one occurs.A stroke happens when the flow of blood is interrupted to an area of the brain. It can be caused by a blockage of blood flow in an artery,or by the breakage of a blood vessel. When blood flow to the brain is interrupted, brain cells begin to die and abilities such as speech,movement and memory can be negatively affected or lost. A person who had a"minor"stroke may experience only moderate problems such as weakness in an arm or leg.A major stroke,however,can leave a person paralyzed on one side of the body and affect the ability to speak.Some people completely recover from strokes,but more than two-thirds will have a permanent disability of some type. Obviously, recognizing the symptoms and,better still,preventing any type of stroke is what we all want. If you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms of poor blood circulation, immediately seek medical attention: • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face,arm or leg,usually on one side of the body. • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding. • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. • Sudden trouble walking,dizziness, loss of balance or coordination. • Sudden severe headache with no known cause. If a stroke is taking place, it's urgent that action be taken to get medical assistance as quickly as possible to minimize damage to the brain. If you think someone may be having a stroke, the Mayo Clinic suggests a FAST formula to perform a few quick and simple tests.Look at the Face. Ask the person to smile and look to see if one side of the face droops.Ask the person to raise both Arms to see if one arm drifts downward.Check Speech by asking the person to repeat a simple sentence to hear if the words are slurred and if the sentence is repeated correctly. If any of these symptoms occur, then Time is critical because brain cells are dying. Immediately call 911 or quickly get to a hospital. The fact is,anyone can have a stroke, but some people have increased risk factors, such as those with a family history of stokes, those over 55,AfricanAmericans, Hispanics andAsian/Pacific Islanders.But, many risk factors can be controlled and minimized.The National StrokeAssociation's Stroke PreventionAdvisory Board suggests that you see your doctor regularly and work closely with him or her to prevent conditions that could lead to a stroke. If you have atrial fibrillation, that is,an abnormal heart rhythm, it is important to have the condition treated.This disorder is found in about 2.2 millionAmericans and accounts for approximately 15 percent of all strokes.Treatments include medication, electroshock, the insertion of a pacemaker unit under the skin to regulate heart rhythm and radio frequency heart procedures using catheters and surgery. Another important thing to do to reduce your risk is keep your blood pressure under control.Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat hypertension,but lifestyle changes such as stress management, keeping a healthy weight and limiting your intake of salt and alcohol are recognized ways to help control high blood pressure. Anything you can do to maintain healthy arteries and blood vessels,and promote good blood circulation,can help you avoid a stroke.Plaque,which can build up on the walls of your arteries, restricts blood circulation and could cause clots. Sound nutrition and regular exercise are essential.Eating less cholesterol and fat,especially saturated fat,may reduce the plaque in your arteries. If you can't control your cholesterol through dietary changes alone,your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol lowering medication. Chances are you will never have a stroke,but remember if you see the signs do not wait to see if symptoms go away. Every minute counts. The longer a stroke goes untreated, the greater the damage and potential disability.Act fast. Loretta Kaes, a registered nurse with certification in gerontology, is vice president, health services at Chelsea Senior Living LLC.Chelsea is based in Summit, and operates senior living communities in East Brunswick, Manalapan, Tinton Falls and five other locations. For more information, call (908) 522-0808, or visit theWeb site at www.chelseaseniorliving.com.