Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is stopped, causing brain cells to die. There are two kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes happen when a blood clot or plaque buildup blocks a blood vessel in the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes result from blood vessels breaking and leaking into or around the brain.

Before having a stroke, some people experience transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), also known as “mini-strokes.” These are mild strokes that result from a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain.

At Life Line Screening, we offer preventive screening for the blood clots and plaque buildup that cause ischemic stroke.

Facts About Stroke in the United States

Stroke is the third-leading killer, after diseases of the heart, and cancer Stroke is the #1 cause of adult disability 80% of strokes are preventable There are approximately 4 million living survivors of stroke 4 out of 5 stroke victims show no apparent warning signs Women account for 61% of stroke deaths After the age of 55, the risk of stroke doubles every 10 years Every 40 seconds, someone has a stroke Americans will pay about $65.5 billion in 2008 for stroke-related medical costs and disability View Sources

Warning signs

Often there are no warning signs for stroke, but if you experience any of the following symptoms you should seek medical care immediately:

• Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arms or legs, particularly on one side of the body
• Sudden loss of speech or trouble understanding speech  
• Sudden unexplained memory loss
• Sudden dimness or loss of vision in one eye
• Sudden onset of double vision
• Sudden severe, acute headache
• Sudden dizziness or loss of balance

Risk factors

Men and women of all ages and races have strokes, but there are many different factors that increase your risk of stroke:

• Age (3/4 of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65)
• Gender (males have an increased risk)  
• Family history of stroke
• Race (African Americans are at an increased risk)
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol consumption
• Poor diet 
• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• High cholesterol levels
• Drug abuse
• Head and neck injuries

The best way to decrease your risk of stroke is to identify the risk factors you have and do what you can to eliminate them. While some risk factors (such as age and gender) cannot be changed, many of the most significant risk factors are controllable. Making lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking, exercising regularly, and controlling high blood pressure, for example, will decrease your risk for stroke.

Getting preventive screening for stroke is another way to be proactive.

Diagnosis of Stroke

Stroke is diagnosed using a variety of tools such as blood tests, brain scans, and standardized questions that help physicians assess neurological functioning.

At Life Line Screening, we offer several screenings that help you understand your risk of stroke:

• Carotid artery disease screening
• Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) screening
• Complete lipid panel screening 
• Glucose screening 
• C-reactive protein screening

Interested in learning more about stroke and screening for stroke? Read our FAQs.