In the clinic, we work with stroke patients and their families to help them understand the risk of having a second stroke and what they can do to reduce their risk. Lifestyle and medical conditions determine your risk for a first, or second, stroke.

• Do you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol?
• Do you have diabetes?
• Have you been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation?
• Do you smoke?
• Are you overweight?
• Do you avoid exercise?
• Has a close relative had a stroke?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re at greater risk for having a stroke. If you’ve already had a stroke, your “yes” answers mean you’re more likely to have another one.

Your lifestyle can help you avoid a first or second stroke. And, because family history is a stroke risk factor, your entire family can benefit from a healthy way of life. Pledge to help each other stick to a routine that includes:

• No smoking
• Healthy eating
• Regular exercise
• Taking medications are directed
• Losing weight if you are overweight or obese
• Drinking alcohol only in moderation
• Taking low-dose aspirin or a similar medicine (if recommended by your doctor)
• Managing your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
  

 Washington State has one of the high est stroke mortality rates in the nation. To improve this situation, acute intervention al therapies for stroke are being employed to restore circulation to ischemic brain tissue that surrounds areas of completed infraction, while avoiding risk of hemor rhage due to reperfusion of large areas of infracted brain tissue.

Urgent thrombolysis with intrave nous alteplase is the only therapy known to improve clinical outcomes following acute stroke. Unfortunately, alteplase has had limited usage because many patients arrive in an emergency department after the three-hour treatment window. The FDA has also approved two clot removal devices based on the ability to restore circulation. These devices are used up to eight hours after symptom onset. Several approaches to improved acute stroke care are now under way, including extension of the thrombolysis window to 4.5 hours, identification of safer thrombolytic agents and research identifying brain at risk of in farction following a stroke.

A recent European study demonstrat ed the efficacy of alteplase up to 4.5 hours after ischemic stroke in patients younger than age 80 years who have neither dia betes mellitus or prior stroke. The safety profile during this longer window for these patients appears similar to that at three hours.

Another promising advance employs a new thrombolytic agent called des moteplase.

A brisk walk for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways and may reduce your risk for stroke. Join me, and one of our exercise physiologists to learn how to stay fit and reduce your risk for stroke. Free blood pressure screening will also be available.

Cherry Hill - Pinard Foyer

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m

For more information, please contact Sherene Schlegel:

sherene.schlegel@swedish.org

Office: 206-320-3484