Stroke Prevention Specialist

Stroke Prevention services offered in Sarasota, FL

Stroke is a leading cause of death — and it’s often preventable. At Sarasota Vascular Specialists, their team of board-certified vascular surgeons offers several stroke prevention treatments that can reduce your risk of a stroke and its complications. Call the office in Sarasota, Florida, to learn more about stroke prevention or book an appointment online today.

Stroke Prevention Q & A

What is a stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood supply to brain tissue gets reduced because of blood vessel bleeding, blockages, or narrowing. When the brain lacks the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function properly, brain cells die. This causes debilitating (sometimes permanent) brain damage.

What are the symptoms of a stroke?

Common symptoms of a stroke include:

Difficulty speaking
Problems understanding others
Numbness in your arm, leg, or face
Paralysis on just one side of your body
Weakness
Blurry or blackened vision
Sudden or severe headaches
Difficulty walking
Losing your balance
Sudden dizziness
Loss of coordination

Temporary or permanent complications that can happen after a stroke include behavioral changes, memory loss, thinking problems, pain, emotional problems, and reduced self-care.

What are the risk factors for a stroke?

While a stroke can happen to anyone, some things raise your risk of having one. These include:

Physical inactivity
Being overweight or obese
Illegal drug use
Heavy drinking
Smoking
High cholesterol
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Diabetes
Heart disease
Family history of stroke
Obstructive sleep apnea
Older age
Some hormone therapies

What is stroke prevention?

Stroke prevention involves adopting healthy lifestyle habits and medical treatment when needed. While you might not be able to eliminate the risk of a stroke entirely, stroke prevention strategies significantly reduce your chance of having a stroke.

Which stroke prevention services are available?

After checking your vital signs, reviewing your medical history, discussing your symptoms, completing a physical exam, and ordering ultrasounds or other tests as needed, your stroke prevention specialist will recommend one or more of the following:

Lifestyle changes

Adopting healthy habits can dramatically reduce your risk of having a stroke. The Sarasota Vascular Specialists team suggests you control high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes if you have it. Eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, don’t smoke, don’t drink excessively, and maintain a healthy weight.

Medicine

When needed, taking prescribed medications can help you control your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and other stroke risk factors. Your provider at Sarasota Vascular Specialists personalizes a medication regimen that’s ideal for you.

Surgery

Cutting-edge surgery performed at Sarasota Vascular Specialists can remove plaque buildup in your arteries. It can widen blood vessels to reduce your risk of having a stroke.

Call Sarasota Vascular Specialists or book an appointment online to learn more about stroke prevention and determine which treatments are best for you.