Category: Stroke

Also known as a mini-stroke, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke. Unlike a stroke, it usually only lasts for a few minutes and doesn’t cause permanent damage. Read on to learn more about TIAs. 

About Mini Strokes

Even though a TIA doesn’t usually cause permanent damage to the same extent a stroke does. But a transient ischemic attack may be a warning. About 1 in 3 people who have a transient ischemic attack will eventually have a stroke, with about half occurring within a year after the transient ischemic attack.

Mini Stroke Symptoms

Transient ischemic attacks usually last a few minutes. Most signs and symptoms disappear within an hour, though rarely symptoms may last up to 24 hours. The signs and symptoms of a TIA resemble those found early in a stroke and may include sudden onset of:

• Weakness, numbness or paralysis in your face, arm or leg, typically on one side of your body
• Slurred or garbled speech or difficulty understanding others
• Blindness in one or both eyes or double vision
• Vertigo or loss of balance or coordination

You may have more than one TIA, and the recurrent signs and symptoms may be similar or different depending on which area of the brain is involved.

Preventing Mini Strokes

Knowing your risk factors and living healthfully are the best things you can do to prevent a TIA. Included in a healthy lifestyle are regular medical checkups. Also:

• Don’t smoke. Stopping smoking reduces your risk of a TIA or a stroke.
• Limit cholesterol and fat. Cutting back on cholesterol and fat, especially saturated fat and trans fat, in your diet may reduce the buildup of plaques in your arteries.
• Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods contain nutrients such as potassium, folate and antioxidants, which may protect against a TIA or a stroke.
• Limit sodium. If you have high blood pressure, avoiding salty foods and not adding salt to food may reduce your blood pressure. Avoiding salt may not prevent hypertension, but excess sodium may increase blood pressure in people who are sensitive to sodium.
• Exercise regularly. If you have high blood pressure, regular exercise is one of the few ways you can lower your blood pressure without drugs.
• Limit alcohol intake. Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. The recommended limit is no more than one drink daily for women and two a day for men.
• Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight contributes to other risk factors, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Losing weight with diet and exercise may lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels.
• Don’t use illicit drugs. Drugs such as cocaine are associated with an increased risk of a TIA or a stroke.
• Control diabetes. You can manage diabetes and high blood pressure with diet, exercise, weight control and, when necessary, medication.

Schedule an Appointment 

Regional Neurological Associates has reopened with your safety in mind and we are seeing patients in-office. Our current office hours are: Monday – Friday from 9 am – 4 pm. If you have questions or concerns about your neurological health, call us at (718) 515-4347 to make an appointment. We are also pleased to announce that same-day appointments are now available.

We do ask that patients experiencing symptoms like fever, cough, or shortness of breath reschedule your appointment or schedule a telemedicine appointment. Please contact our office to change your in-person visit to a Telehealth visit (718) 515-4347. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month, so we’re taking the opportunity to dive deeper into the subject. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 people in the US have a stroke each year. Stroke recovery looks different for every survivor, but there are certain things you should know if you or a loved one have had a stroke.

Staying Informed is Crucial

Whether you are a stroke survivor or the caregiver of someone who has had a stroke, you need to be well-informed by the healthcare team. Keep a record of all prescribed medications and any potential side effects. And if you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask them even if you think it sounds silly.

Stroke Recovery Takes Time

An important part of stroke recovery is setting and managing realistic expectations. Every patient is different, so there is not a set timeline for recovery. Gains may be made slowly over time or they may happen quickly. Just be sure to keep consulting the healthcare team throughout recovery and discuss any concerns you have.

There Are Different Types of Therapies to Consider

Depending on the severity of the stroke and the type of impairments the stroke survivor has afterward, different kinds of therapy might be needed. These include:

• Speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
  • Motor-skill exercises
  • Range-of-motion therapy
  • Constraint-induced therapy
  • Mobility training
  • Technology-assisted physical activities
• Psychological evaluation & treatment
• Experimental therapies
  • Noninvasive brain stimulation
  • Alternative medicine
  • Biological therapies
    • Stem cell therapy (only done in clinical trials)

You Can Reduce the Risk of Another Stroke

Stroke survivors are at a high risk of having another stroke. You can reduce the risk of another stroke by making sure the patient eats a healthy diet, gets exercise, and maintains a healthy weight. It’s crucial that they take all prescribed medications as instructed, participate in therapy, and sees their healthcare provider regularly.

And if you aren’t familiar with the signs of stroke already, become familiar so you can act quickly if another stroke occurs. Remember, think FAST:

• Face drooping
• Arm weakness
• Speech difficulty
• Time to call 911

Monitor Any Falls

People who suffer from strokes often fall, however you shouldn’t just shrug this off as a part of stroke recovery. Serious falls can cause injury and frequent falls may be a sign of decline. If a fall results in severe pain, bleeding or bruising, you should go to the emergency room for treatment. If the patient has more than two minor falls in a six month period, talk to their physical therapist and doctor. 

Stay Alert for Emotional Changes 

Changes in attitude or behavior may be a sign you need to make adjustments to your stroke recovery plan. Getting advice from the patient’s care team can help with managing emotional turmoil. And staying alert can help prevent post-stroke depression, which can get in the way of recovery. According to the American Stroke Association, as many as 30 – 50% of stroke survivors experience depression post-stroke. Talk to the survivor’s care providers about forming an action plan to prevent post-stroke depression.

Measuring Progress Helps

Keeping track of how much progress someone is making during stroke recovery is important for a number of reasons. Even small gains should be recorded because the rate of improvement can dictate how much therapy a patient needs. Progress should be measured so that the Functional Independence Measure Score (FIMS) can be adjusted. This score includes things like mobility and communication skills and should improve weekly in most stroke survivors.

Needs May Change With Time

Depending on the improvements or declines during stroke recovery, services may need to be adjusted. In fact, Medicare coverage for certain rehabilitation services changes based on a stroke survivor’s physical function. If there is any change in function, then their eligibility for certain therapies.

Ask for Help When You Need It

Caring for someone recovering from a stroke can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Make sure you know where to get help, and then make sure you actually reach out when you need to. This includes help with getting the care you or your loved one needs or just getting support for yourself. Ask your healthcare provider for help if you are being denied services. Find support stroke caregiver support groups and other community resources to help you take care of yourself.

At Regional Neurological Associates in New York, we are experts at managing a range of neurologic conditions including strokes and neuromuscular disorders. If you have questions or concerns about your neurological health, call us at (718) 515-4347 to make an appointment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 859,000 Americans die of heart disease, stroke, or another cardiovascular disease every year. Because February is American Heart Month, it’s the perfect opportunity to look at how neurological health and heart health are connected. For instance, heart disease and stroke are closely linked in many ways.

High Blood Pressure

According to data from the CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, about 78 million US adults have high blood pressure. That’s around 1 in 3 American adults. Only about half of these people have their high blood pressure under control. Approximately 7 in 10 people who have a first heart attack and 8 in 10 people who have a first stroke have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is linked to several factors, including diets high in sodium.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, increases the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease because it damages the lining of the arteries. When the arterial linings are damaged, it is easier for plaque to build up in the arteries. As for what plaque is and where it comes from, look no further than high cholesterol. 

High Cholesterol

High LDL cholesterol, often referred to as “bad cholesterol,” can double a person’s risk of heart disease. Excess cholesterol combines with calcium and other substances in the blood to form plaque that builds up inside blood vessels and blocks blood flow. Blocked arteries can have negative effects on the heart, brain, kidneys, and other organs. It is also dangerous when blood flow to the legs decreases. Millions of adults in the US have high LDL cholesterol but only about half of them are effectively managing it with medication.

There is also “good” cholesterol in the blood, called HDL. Having high levels of HDL in your blood is not a cause for concern. In fact, it’s considered a good thing. It is thought that HDL carries LDL out of the blood and into the liver. Having healthy HDL levels may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Diabetes

Diabetes can negatively affect many major organs in the body. It increases the risk of stroke and heart disease, and another cardiovascular disease called peripheral artery disease (PAD). It is also linked to kidney disease, vision loss, nerve damage, and high cholesterol.

Being Overweight or Obese

People who are overweight or have obesity, have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke than people of normal weight. Risk factors like high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and type 2 diabetes are also much higher among obese individuals.

Lifestyle Factors

Smoking has an extremely negative effect on overall health, especially cardiovascular health. Smoking causes many cases of heart disease and stroke. This is because it damages the cardiovascular system, the neurological system, and pretty much every other body system. Smokers have stickier blood that is more likely to clot. Clots can block blood flow to both the heart and brain, causing heart attack and stroke. Smoking also raises triglycerides and lowers healthy cholesterol in the blood. It also increases the buildup of plaque in blood vessels. This prevents blood flow and decreases circulation. Smokers may also have thicker and narrower arteries and veins.

Having a healthy diet can reduce a person’s chances of getting heart disease. A healthy diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins and limits saturated and trans fat, added sugars, and sodium.

Exercise can also help lower risks of heart disease and stroke. Not getting enough physical activity can lead to heart disease and stroke even if they do not have any other risk factors. Exercise along with a healthy diet can help combat obesity and reduce the complications of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

—

At Regional Neurological Associates in New York, we have board-certified neurologists who are experts in the treatment and management of neurologic conditions, including strokes. If you want to learn more about how your heart health may affect your neurological health, call (718) 515-4347 to make an appointment.

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds, with someone dying of stroke every 4 minutes. It is the leading cause of serious long-term disability and overall, the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. But, did you know that many of the leading causes of stroke are preventable?

Here are six treatable risk factors of stroke that you can control by making healthy choices and managing existing health conditions:

1. Smoking

Smoking cigarettes doubles your risk of ischemic stroke and increases your risk of hemorrhagic stroke by four times. Those who smoke are also at increased risk of developing heart disease and lung cancer. Of course, the best thing you can do is to not start smoking in the first place. But, if you already have, it’s never too late to quit. If you are unable to quit smoking on your own, talk to your healthcare provider about quit-smoking aids such as nicotine patches, medications, counseling and other programs that may be available to you.

2. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading risk factor for stroke. In the United States, an estimated 1 in 3 adults has high blood pressure with only slightly half having the condition under control. It is important to check your blood pressure regularly and understand your numbers and risk factors because there are often no warning signs or symptoms. In many cases, high blood pressure can be prevented and managed with simple lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise.

3. Heart Disease

The term heart and blood vessel disease, or simply heart disease, can be misleading does not refer to a single condition. Instead, it is an umbrella term used to describe several types of conditions that affect the heart including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, heart infections and congenital heart defects.

Many of these conditions are related to a process called atherosclerosis which develops when plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries within the heart. This buildup of plaque causes the arteries to narrow and restricts the ability for blood to flow through. If the buildup forms a clot that blocks the blood flow entirely, it can cause a heart attack or stroke. As with high blood pressure, you can help lower your risk of heart disease by eating a balanced diet and participating in regular physical activity. Not smoking, managing your weight and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption can also help.

4. Diabetes

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in terms of stroke and cardiovascular disease, having diabetes is the equivalent of aging 15 years. Not only does diabetes affect the body’s ability to process sugar, but also destructive changes to the blood vessel throughout your body, including the brain. While in some cases, diabetes is caused by uncontrollable genetic factors, often times it can be prevented and managed by implementing healthy lifestyle habits.

5. Cholesterol Imbalance

There are two types of cholesterol–low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Sometimes referred to as “bad cholesterol” an excess of LDL can cause cholesterol to build up in the blood vessels and lead to atherosclerosis, or cardiovascular disease. As previously mentioned, this narrowing of the blood vessels is also a leading cause of stroke. Ways to improve the balance of your cholesterol levels include reducing consumption of saturated and trans fats and increasing your intake of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.

6. Physical Inactivity and Obesity

Sedentary lifestyles and obesity have grown to become a widespread health concern, as they have been proven to be associated with high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. The World Health Organization reports that obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. For adults, overweight is defined as a body mass index greater than or equal to 25, and obesity as a BMI greater than or equal to 30. Due to inflammation caused by excess fatty tissue, obesity can increase the risk of stroke due to inflammation caused by excess fatty tissue.

When a Stroke Occurs

While it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to reduce the risk of stroke, it is equally important to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke, as well as how to respond. If think you or someone you loved has suffered a stroke, call 911 immediately.

If the occurrence of a stroke is confirmed, the physicians at Regional Neurological Associates can help guide you through the process of stroke recovery, including identifying risk factors to help reduce the risk of recurrence. To schedule an appointment, call (718) 515-4347.