Jun
1
Ask Your Pharmacist
By Robert Wojtas
Pharmacist and Owner, James Bay Pharmasave
Anyone can have a stroke, including young healthy people, but some of us are more at risk. Stroke has many of the same risk factors as heart disease. Although we can't control some risk factors, such as age, there are many we can control.
Risks that can be controlled or treated include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis or "hardening of the arteries"), atrial fibrillation (a heart rhythm disorder), heart disease, smoking, inactivity, being overweight, high alcohol consumption (for men, more than 15 drinks per week; for women, more than 10 drinks per week), recreational drug use (cocaine, amphetamines, and LSD), and use of postmenopausal hormone therapy or birth control pills.
Risks that cannot be controlled include: age - stroke risk increases as you age, doubling every decade for people over 55 years of age; gender - strokes are more common in men than in women, but women are more likely to die from a stroke; a family history of heart disease - there is evidence that there is a genetic component to stroke; ethnicity - First Nations, African, or South Asian people have a higher incident of stroke; prior stroke(s)/heart attack(s) - you are more likely to have a stroke if you have had one previously.
If you're concerned about your risk of having a stroke, speak to your Live Well Pharmacist or other healthcare professional. They will be able to help you find ways to deal with the risks that can be controlled.
Ask Your Pharmacist
Q: Why is it so important to call 9-1-1 if someone is having a stroke?
A: A stroke is a medical emergency because quick treatment is needed to reduce the consequences. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you notice these warning signs:
Sudden weakness, numbness, or tingling of the face, arm, or leg (often on only one side of the body)
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding speech
Sudden vision problems (often in one eye only)
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or falls
Sudden severe headache (often described as "the worst headache of my life") with no known cause
Do you have a question? Don't hesitate to ask your Live Well Pharmacist.