Stroke Prevention
Stroke prevention starts with monitoring risk factors such as smoking, diet, exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol. Seale Harris Clinic physicians do this by getting an EKG and chest xray. Our physicians my set you up for a carotid Doppler or Nuclear Stress Test. This testing can help with stroke prevention.
What is a Stroke?
A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. They are considered medical emergency due to the permanent neurological damage, complications and death they can cause. Strokes develop from a lack of blood supply (ischemia) caused by thrombosis or embolism from a hemorrhage. When this occurs the brain is unable to function properly ultimately resulting in the inability to move one or more limbs on the body, understand or formulate speech, and see one side of the visual field. Several risks factors lead to the increase risk an individual has to develop a stroke. Some risk factors include advanced age, hypertension (most important modifiable risk factor), transient ischemia attack, diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette smoking, and atrial fibrillation.
Labs
LDL - Low Density Lipoprotein shows the level of "Bad" Cholesterol that blocks up arteries with its plaque like substance.
HDL - High Density Lipoprotein shows the "Good" Cholesterol that seems to protect against heart attack and stroke.
VLDL - Very Low Density Lipoprotein is a bad protein that can lead to atherosclerosis.