World Stroke Day for me

World Stroke Day is observed on October 29.

I didn’t really think about strokes until I had mine. My two strokes were caused by a carotid dissection because of a genetic condition called fibromuscular dysplasia.

As a result I have conditions called aphasia and apraxia. I am plagued with routine throbbing headaches, mental and physical exhaustion and “brain fog” when I do too much.

The bottom line is 20% of my brain is dead. I was 50 years old and in good health.

This photo shows my brain scan. The white sections on my brain shows dead brain tissue.

But

I really want to stress one of the lucky ones. I am leading a productive and happy life despite it all.

Here are some sobering strokes statistics:

Stroke kills about 140,000 Americans each year—that’s 1 out of every 20 deaths.

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds.

Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke.

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke.

About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.

About 185,00 strokes—nearly 1 of 4—are in people who have had a previous stroke.

About 87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.

Stroke costs the United States an estimated $34 billion each year.

This total includes the cost of health care services, medicines to treat stroke, and missed da ys of work.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability. bEFAST

Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over.

However, there has been a rise out of younger people having strokes mainly because of energy drinks.

And finally, heed the warning signs of strokes: “BEFAST.”

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