If you or someone you know experiences any of these, which may be warning signs of stroke, contact your doctor immediately.

• Numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg

• Difficulty with or slurred speech

• Difficulty understanding others

• Dizziness when accompanied by one or more of these warning signs

• Sudden blurred or decreased vision

• Loss of balance

A stroke is the result of a sudden decrease in the flow of blood to parts of the brain. When blood cannot reach the brain, the brain cells become deprived of oxygen and die. Consequently, functions normally controlled by these damaged brain areas become impaired. For example, paralysis of certain body parts may occur. The interruption in blood flow can be due to blockage of an artery in the head or neck, or to bursting of an artery in the brain and subsequent bleeding into the brain.

Strokes are very common. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting one of five Americans. Two-thirds of stroke victims survive, however, and many regain some or all of their lost abilities through rehabilitation. Better efforts and new drugs to help prevent stroke promise to lower the number of fatalities.

Your risk of having a stroke in influenced by many factors, some of which you can control and some you cannot. If you are male, if you have diabetes or if you have suffered a previous stroke or TIA or if you are african american, you are at a greater risk. Your risk increases with age. These are things that you obviously cannot change. Risk factors that can be modified by medical treatment and direct lifestyle changes include hypertention, heart disease, elevated cholesterol levels, smoking, obesity, and excess alchohol consumption. If you have a history of any of these, consider yourself at increased risk and seek your physician's help in making these changes NOW.

Transient ischemic attack or TIA is like a mini stroke, which causes only a temporary loss of function. These losses can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. TIA is a serious warning sign of stroke. Contact your doctor immediately! Do not ignore these symptoms just because they eventually go away. A sudden decrease in vision or blurred vision, or numbness or awkwardness of an arm or leg are all signs of TIA as well as, sudden haedache, slurred speech or difficulty understanding others, or difficulty swallowing or sudden dizziness.

Since stroke is a form of cardiovascular disease, making your heart and blood vessels healthier will reduce your risk. First, have regular check-ups so that you and your doctor will be aware of any problems. If you have high blood pressure, make sure you take your medication or follow whatever measures your doctor has prescribed. If you are overweight or have elevated blood cholesterol, change your diet to reduce these risks. If you smoke or drink alcohol excessively, seek out a good program to help you quit. Consult with your physician about regular, moderate exercise (for example, walking or swimming) which may also do your heart good.

Ask your doctor about drug therapies that may help reduce your risk of stroke.

Ask your doctor about having a CAROTID DUPLEX study and TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER study performed to assess the integrity of blood flow to your brain.