Question: I am a 43 year old female with a family history prevalent for strokes. As I approach middle age, I am concerned that I may not recognize the early warning signs of a stroke. Are there any taletell signs that I should be aware of? Are there any particular risk factors that indefinitley lead to a stroke? What exactly is a stroke?

Answer: A stroke is caused when the brain does not get enough blood supply? The stroke may be mild or severe. It may last for a short time or may be permanent. The result of damage following a stroke depends on the size of the area and the place in the brain where the nerve cells die. A stroke can affect your movements, speaking, site, reading, and the ability to understand others. Several risk factors can be associated with the incidence of a stroke. They are:

1. High Blood Pressure
2. High Blood Cholesterol
3. Diabetes
4. Strong Family History

A small stroke may be a warning of a big stroke. Only a small area of the brain is involved. These little strokes may last only a few minutes or a couple of hours. They can have the same signs as a mild stroke. The following are the warning signs of a stroke:

1. Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg.
2. Trouble talking or trouble understanding someone talking
3. Sudden loss or darkening of vision or blurry vision
4. Double vision for a short time period.
5. Sudden headaches for no reason. Your headaches feel different
6. New change in your personality or ability to think

If you have one or more of these signs, call your doctor immediately. The absolute best treatment for a stroke is early detection with prompt medical treatment.