Stroke Prevention Specialist

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.