Neurology is a cornerstone program at Lynchburg General Hospital. Each year, approximately 450 neurosurgery procedures are performed. Patients with more serious neurological problems are treated in our NICU (Neurological Intensive Care Unit). This unit is designed for patients requiring special nursing care and equipment for their recovery. Patients in the unit typically are recovering from head injuries, accidents, falls and other trauma, brain tumors, seizures, cerebral aneurysms or carotid endarterectomies.

Strokes: what is a stroke, and what are the symptoms and risk factors.

What is a stroke?
A stroke, or brain attack, is caused by the sudden loss of blood flow to the brain or bleeding inside the head. A stroke can cause brain cells to die. When brain cells die, the function of body parts they control is impaired or lost. This damage can cause paralysis, speech problems, loss of feeling, memory and reasoning problems, coma, and possibly death. Fortunately, by recognizing the signs of stroke and seeking immediate medical attention you can help reduce your chances of death or disability.

What are the symptoms?
Stroke symptoms are not always painful, but that does not mean stroke is not life threatening. Stroke is an emergency. Immediate medical attention is required. Common symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors for stokes you cannot change:

• Age. The risk for stroke increases with age. The risk doubles every decade you are over 55. At least 66% of all people who have a stroke are age 65 or older.
• Race. African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher risk than those of other races. Compared with whites, young African-Americans have 2 to 3 times the risk of ischemic stroke, and African-American men and women are more likely to die from strokes.
• Gender. Stroke is more common in men than women until age 75, when more women than men have strokes. At all ages, more women than men die of stroke.
• Family history. The risk for stroke is greater if a parent, brother, or sister has had a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Prior history of stroke or TIA.

Risk factors for strokes you can control:

• High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the second most important stroke risk factor after age.
• Diabetes. About one-quarter of people with diabetes die of stroke. Having diabetes doubles your risk for stroke because of the circulation problems associated with the disease.
• High cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, it can lead to coronary artery disease and heart attack, which can damage the heart muscle and increase your risk for stroke.
• Other heart conditions. Heart problems, such as atrial fibrillation, endocarditis, heart valve conditions, patent foramen ovale, and cardiomyopathy, increase your risk for stroke.
• Smoking, including secondhand smoke.
• Physical inactivity.
• Obesity.
• Use of some medications, such as birth control pills–especially by women who smoke or have a history of blood-clotting problems–blood thinners, or steroids.
• Heavy use of alcohol. People who drink excessively, especially people who binge drink, are more likely to have a stroke. Binge drinking involves drinking more than 5 drinks in a short period of time.
• Use of cocaine and other street drugs.