Some call it a stroke. Some call it a brain attack. Call it what you will. About 700,000 women and men in the United States will have one this year.

About 85% of strokes occur from a lack of blood flow in an artery in your brain. This is called an ischemic stroke. About 20% of the time, these strokes are caused by carotid artery disease, a narrowing or complete blockage of the artery, an artery in the neck leading to the front of your brain.

This blockage is commonly due to cholesterol-containing plaques in the ateries (atherosclerosis, formerly referred to as hardening of the arteries).

Here is how your doctor can determine if you have carotid artery disease, how it is treated, and whether you are a candidate for a procedure to clear away the plaques, either with an operation called carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or with a procedure called carotid angioplasty and stent placement (CAS).

Warning signs of stroke

If you notice warning signs of stroke, call 911 or emergency medical help, even if your symptoms disappear in a few minutes. Early detection can save your life and prevent major disabilities. Warning signs are sudden and usually painless. They may include:

· Numbness or weakness of your face, arm, or leg especially on one side.

· Confusion or trouble speaking or understanding

· Trouble seeing in one or both eyes, or double vision

· Troubly walking, dizziness, or loss of balance, or coordination, including unexplained falling.

· Severe unexpected headache

Not all of these signs occur with every stroke, and sometimes symptoms go away and return. Symptoms that last a few moments and disappear completely in less than 24 hours are known as ministrokes, or transient ischemic attack (TIAs). The brief episodes are warning of your risk of serious stroke. In fact, having one or more TIAs increases your risk of stroke by more than 9 times as much as that of someone who hasn't had TIA.

If your physician finds a significant amount of blockage in one or both of yor cartoid arteries, you will need to discuss strategies to reduce your risk of stroke. Keeping your risk factors under control and taking quick action at the first signs of a stroke can give you years more life without stroke-related disabilities.

· Controlling Risk Factor for Stroke

· Quit smoking

· Control high blood pressure

· Optimize blood sugar control

· Control cholesterol and triglyceride levels

· Limit excess alchohol

· Achieve and maintain an ideal weight

· Get regular excercise

This article brough to you by Soldotna Medical Clinic

Gonzolo Fraser, M.D., AAFP

315 S. Kobuk, Suite B, Soldotna, AK 99669