This Week At UMC

What are the risk factors for stroke?

High blood pressure and high fat diets
Cigarette smoking, previous stroke and heart disease
Diabetes and carotid artery disease
All of the above

Correct Answer : All of the above

"Mississippi is right in the middle of the so-called stroke belt," said Dr. David Lee Gordon, associate professor of neurology and medical director of the UMC Comprehensive Stroke Program. The Southeastern states have a higher death rate due to stroke than any other region of the country. In Mississippi, stroke is the third leading cause of death.

"A stroke or brain attack is caused by a sudden decrease in the flow of blood to an area of the brain," said Dr. Gordon. "When blood cannot reach the brain, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and die. Functions normally controlled by the damaged area of the brain are then impaired."

Stroke risk factors include high blood pressure, high fat diets, cigarette smoking, previous stroke, heart disease, diabetes and carotid artery disease. Heavy drinking of alcohol especially "binge drinking" has also been associated with stroke. Blacks have an approximately 60 percent higher risk of stroke than whites and men have a greater risk of stroke than women. A person's stroke risk doubles each decade after age 55.

Stroke warning signs include weakness or numbness on one side of the body , sudden imbalance, sudden difficulty speaking or understanding speech, sudden difficulty seeing in one eye, or sudden and severe headache that is unusual for the patient.

Some strokes are preceded by transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs occur due to temporary interruption of blood flow within or leading to the brain. The symptoms for TIAs are the same as those for stroke.

Dr. David Lee Gordon, associate professor of neurology and medical director of the UMC Comprehensive Stroke Program, received the American Heart Association's Stroke Council Liaison of the Year Award on February 6 for his work in promoting stroke awareness, prevention and treatment in Mississippi. Related Site: