{"id":4690,"date":"2023-07-10T09:28:43","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T16:28:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vistasolmedicalgroup.com\/?p=4690"},"modified":"2023-07-10T09:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T16:28:46","slug":"medical-myths-all-about-stroke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vistasolmedicalgroup.com\/medical-myths-all-about-stroke\/","title":{"rendered":"Medical Myths: All about stroke<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, over 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke every year, and around 610,000 are first strokes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, stroke was the leading cause of mortality globally, accounting for 11% of deaths.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three main types of stroke. The first and most common, accounting for 87% of cases, is an ischemic stroke. It occurs when blood flow through the artery that supplies oxygen to the brain becomes blocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second is a hemorrhagic stroke, caused by a rupture in an artery in the brain, which in turn damages surrounding tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third type of stroke is a transient ischemic attack (TIA, which is sometimes called a \u201cministroke.\u201d It happens when blood flow is temporarily blocked to the brain, usually for no more than 5 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While stroke is very common, it is often misunderstood. To help us dispel myths on the topic and improve our understanding, we got in touch with Dr. Rafael Alexander Ortiz, chief of Neuro-Endovascular Surgery and Interventional Neuro-Radiology at Lenox Hill Hospital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stroke is a problem of the heart<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although stroke risk is linked to cardiovascular risk factors, strokes happen in the brain, not the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome people think that stroke is a problem of the heart,\u201d Dr. Ortiz told MNT<\/em>. \u201cThat is incorrect. A stroke is a problem of the brain, caused by the blockage or rupture of arteries or veins in the brain, and not the heart.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people confuse stroke with a heart attack, which is caused by a blockage in blood flow to the heart, and not the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Stroke is not preventable <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe most common risk factors [for stroke] include hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, trauma to the head or neck, and cardiac arrhythmias,\u201d said Dr. Ortiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these risk factors can be modified by lifestyle. Exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can reduce risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other risk factors include alcohol consumption and stress. Working to reduce or remove these lifestyle factors may also reduce a person\u2019s risk of stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Stroke does not run in families <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Single-gene disorders such as sickle cell disease increase a person\u2019s risk for stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genetic factors including a higher risk for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors may also indirectly increase stroke risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As families are likely to share environments and lifestyles, unhealthy lifestyle factors are likely to increase stroke risk among family members, especially when coupled with genetic risk factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Stroke symptoms are hard to recognize <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common symptoms for stroke form the acronym \u201cF.A.S.T.\u201c:<\/p>\n\n\n\n