Family History of Strokes?

Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a research project on aphasia. It was fascinating and exhausting. The three and a half hour session tested many cognitive functions.

At the outset of the testing, the researcher asked about my strokes. I mentioned that on January 10, 2012, I experienced a carotid dissection. During that awful day, the doctors determined that I have a rare disease called “fibromuscular dysplasia.” Three days later, I had a massive carotid dissection which left me with aphasia and other assorted issues. 20% of my brain died.

The research team asked me of there has been any family history of strokes. Thinking of the fibromuscular dysplasia diagnosis, I replied “no.”

However, in retrospect, my maternal grandmother did die of a cerebral hemorrhage. I did not really know my mother’s real mom. My mother found the identity of her biological mother when my mom was 22 years old.  That relationship was not a “Brady Bunch” situation, the contact was limited at best.


I do remember my grandmother a little. I do know that she was a heavy smoker and one lung was removed as a result.

After my strokes, I asked my mother about her mother’s death. According to my mother it was “just cerebral hemorrhage.” She died instantly.

I now understand that my mother used that term because it is the simple explanation. “She died of a stroke.” Given my experience, a simple term like a “stroke” has some many variables.

Did my grandmother really have a cerebral hemorrhage? There is no way to know at all. Her cause of death could be accurate or just family diagnosis and/or unformed “he said, she said” urban myth.

There are two types of strokes. I had two ischemic strokes which is the most common. 87% of strokes are ischemic.  Ischemic strokes happens when blood flow through the arteries that supplies blood to the brain because blocked.

On the other hand, a hemorrhagic stroke happens when an artery in the brain leaks blood or ruptures (breaks open). The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, which damages them.

It seems that my grandmother and I had two different kinds of strokes.

It would be interesting to know if my grandmother also had fibromuscular dysplasia. My grandmother died more than 40 years ago, and my mother died 7 years ago. My mom’s half-siblings have no interest in my or my mother. I do not know if they are even living. So that is a dead end.

Fibromuscular dysplasia is a very rare genetic disease.  Fibromuscular dysplasia is the abnormal development or growth of cells in the walls of arteries that can cause the vessels to narrow or bulge. The carotid arteries, which pass through the neck and supply blood to the brain, are commonly affected.

Women have a much greater risk of fibromuscular dysplasia than do men. Fibromuscular disorder tends to be diagnosed in people in their early 50s. I was 50 years old when my strokes happened.

The study last week made think if my grandmother had the same disease. I will never know. Plus it really does not matter in the scheme of things.

I do worry that my son has Fibromuscular dysplasia. He is 14 years old. I wonder when he will ask about the family history of strokes.