New Guidelines for Stroke Prevention
American Stroke Association Highlights Ways People Can Lower Their Risk of Stroke
May 4, 2006 -- Today, tomorrow, and every day this year, roughly 1,900 strokes will be suffered by people in the U.S.
After heart disease and cancer, strokes are responsible for more American deaths than any other medical condition, but experts say much could be done to change this.
Guidelines released today by the American StrokeAssociation highlight some well-established and less well-known risk factors for stroke, as well as measures people can take to lower their risk.
"We are making some progress, but we still have a big mountain to climb," says Larry B. Goldstein, MD, who led the guidelines committee. "People are more aware of stroke than they used to be. But far too many people ignore or don't recognize the symptoms of stroke and delay seeking treatment."
Low birth weight was recognized for the first time as a possible risk factor for stroke, based on recent studies suggesting a doubling of risk among adults who weighed less than 5.5 pounds at birth compared with those who weighed 8.8 pounds or more. The reason for this is unclear, and this association does not mean that low birth weight causes stroke.
Other well established, nonmodifiable stroke risk factors include age, sex, race or ethnic background, and family history. Elderly people, men, blacks, and people with a family history of stroke tend to have a higher than average risk.
The guidelines call for very aggressive stroke screening and prevention efforts for children and adults with sickle cell disease. About 10% of children with sickle cell will have had a stroke by the time they reach adulthood.
The committee report also called on doctors to assess their patients' stroke risk using established tools.
Patients who know they are at risk for having a stroke tend to be more motivated to make lifestyle changes and take their medication than patients who are simply told they have cardiovascular disease, Goldstein says.
"We know that people greatly fear the consequences of stroke, such as being unable to talk and understand, being unable to care for yourself, and being unable move one side of your body," he tells WebMD.
New Guidelines for Stroke Prevention
American Stroke Association Highlights Ways People Can Lower Their Risk of Stroke
May 4, 2006 -- Today, tomorrow, and every day this year, roughly 1,900 strokes will be suffered by people in the U.S.
After heart disease and cancer, strokes are responsible for more American deaths than any other medical condition, but experts say much could be done to change this.
Guidelines released today by the American StrokeAssociation highlight some well-established and less well-known risk factors for stroke, as well as measures people can take to lower their risk.
"We are making some progress, but we still have a big mountain to climb," says Larry B. Goldstein, MD, who led the guidelines committee. "People are more aware of stroke than they used to be. But far too many people ignore or don't recognize the symptoms of stroke and delay seeking treatment."
Who Is at Risk
Low birth weight was recognized for the first time as a possible risk factor for stroke, based on recent studies suggesting a doubling of risk among adults who weighed less than 5.5 pounds at birth compared with those who weighed 8.8 pounds or more. The reason for this is unclear, and this association does not mean that low birth weight causes stroke.
Other well established, nonmodifiable stroke risk factors include age, sex, race or ethnic background, and family history. Elderly people, men, blacks, and people with a family history of stroke tend to have a higher than average risk.
The guidelines call for very aggressive stroke screening and prevention efforts for children and adults with sickle cell disease. About 10% of children with sickle cell will have had a stroke by the time they reach adulthood.
The committee report also called on doctors to assess their patients' stroke risk using established tools.
Patients who know they are at risk for having a stroke tend to be more motivated to make lifestyle changes and take their medication than patients who are simply told they have cardiovascular disease, Goldstein says.
"We know that people greatly fear the consequences of stroke, such as being unable to talk and understand, being unable to care for yourself, and being unable move one side of your body," he tells WebMD.
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