Men's Health

Stroke

Men's Health Home > Top 10 Health Concerns of Men > Stroke

A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack." It can injure the brain like a heart attack can injure the heart. A person who has a stroke may suffer little or no brain damage and disability, especially if the stroke is treated promptly. But, if not treated promptly, a stroke can lead to severe brain damage and disability, or even death.

Stroke risk is higher for people who have a family history of stroke and for African Americans. African American men also have a higher risk of disability and death from stroke than White men. This is partly because more African American men have high blood pressure, a major stroke risk factor.

You can't control some stroke risks, such as family history, age, and race, but you can control the leading cause — high blood pressure — as well as contributing factors such as smoking and diabetes. Additional preventive measures you can take:

• Lower your intake of cholesterol (eggs, butter, and lard) and saturated fat (cheese, whole milk, and regular ground beef).
• Don't smoke.
• If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions for eating, exercising, and taking insulin.
• Maintain a healthy weight by exercising and eating right.

Additional Information on Stroke:

Publications

1.   Know Stroke. Know the Signs. Act in Time - This publication contains information on what a stroke is, what the signs of someone having a stroke are, and what can be done to prevent stroke.

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

2.   NINDS Stroke Information Page - This on-line publication discusses stroke, the treatment options, and ongoing research. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the part of the brain is suddenly interrupted (ischemic) or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts, spilling blood into the spaces surrounding the brain cells (hemorrhagic).

   http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm

3.   Stroke - This fact sheet provides information on strokes and offers tips for stroke prevention. It also gives a list of warning signs that may indicate a stroke is happening.

   http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/stroke.asp

4.   Stroke - This web page links to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about stroke. It contains frequently asked questions, statistics, risk factors, and more.

   http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/

5. Heart Attack/Coronary Heart Disease Risk Assessment (Copyright © American Heart Association) - This health risk awareness quiz focuses on heart attack and stroke and allows you to assess your risk for heart disease and stroke. Included is a stroke risk scorecard, and questions to ask your doctor.

   http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3003499

6. Stroke: Warning Signs and Tips for Prevention (Copyright © AAFP) - This fact sheet provides information on stroke, how you know when you are having a stroke, the warning signs, and how to avoid having a stroke.

   http://www.familydoctor.org/handouts/290.html

Organizations

1.   National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, HHS
2.   National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, HHS
3. American Stroke Association

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of June 2007