High blood pressure, or high cholesterol or high blood glucose.? A fit 72 year old make had a stroke or a mini stroke, Why?
Active healthy eating person now having food through a tube, this is because after the mini stroke this person is unable swallow food through the mouth.
All the three blood numbers were under control but not on any medication!
My understanding is that brain strokes and eye strokes are often caused by a blockage of the Carotid artery - similar to the blockages of the heart arteries - caused by a buildup of "plaque" . Although risk factors for this include things like high cholesterol numbers, high blood pressure, smoking, etc - the medicos don't really know why some get it and others don't. I had a calcium score test which showed calcification of my heart arteries and recently had a carotid ultrasound test which revealed minor blockage in my carotid artery. We all gotta die from something sometime - friends tell me that I might have a heart attack or stroke while running on the open roads- I tell them that is my plan - but I want a good one, not a half hearted attack like your friend appears to have had - I don't fancy dying from a car crash or some form of cancer , the other two most statistically likely events for a person my age. (70s)
Absolutely agree with you!! I’d much rather die from a heart attack - just drop down dead - than from an accident or (god forbid, worst-case scenario) cancer.
Thank you for your reply.
Strokes can also be caused by an internal bleed triggered by blood thinners or even low dose daily aspirin.
Given the lack of detailed medical information we can only guess. Strokes and heart attacks are usually triggered by blood clots or unstable plaques. Unstable plaques occur when a person has either an inflammatory diet, or lifestyle, or a combination of both. While most people self-report their lifestyle and diet as healthy, closer inspection usually reveals otherwise.
Blood clots are also common after extended periods of immobility such as hospitalization or when travelling on a plane, a car, or train. Blood tends to pool and coagulate during long periods of immobility.
While most doctors look at standard lipid values, they tend to overlook the risk of sticky platelets by not assessing INR, homocysteine or fibrinogen values.
Traumatic injuries to the brain or other parts of the body can also trigger blood clots.
A test called Lp-pla2 can reveal the status of unstable plaques in the arteries which can provide an early warning so that people can adjust their diet, lifestyle, medication or vitamin regimen.
Finally, let's not forget 'stress' which can contribute to the inflammatory conditions that trigger such events.
In summary, routine monitoring of certain blood tests can help people avoid unexpected health issues, in addition to living a lower-stress lifestyle along with a nutritious diet accompanied by daily exercise.
I am very sorry that I am unable to provide more information. All happened very quick while the person was having lunch, he felt OK to move arm and legs but could not continue with lunch or speak properly.
He was take to hospital, hospital did tests, was in hospital for 5 days, now he is having his food medication and drinks via a nose tube. May be in Canada or UK we can get more medical information but in a country in SE Asia very difficult to get information.
The reason for the post is to let the readers know a mini stroke or a stroke can happen to any one at any time!!
Unfortunately controlling BP, Diabetes and cholesterol doesn't prevent strokes happening, it just reduces the risk. What you haven't mentioned is AF-atrial fibrillation, which is a very common heart rhythm abnormality in older people and is under diagnosed.
It can cause small clots to collect in the heart which might move to the brain and block one of the small arteries there. To reduce the risk of this happening, people who have AF and more than one other risk factor for stroke should be put on anticoagulants eg warfarin or one of the newer blood thinners like apixaban.
As your friend has been left with problems , it is a stroke, not a "mini stroke".
A "mini stroke" or TIA is a temporary blockage of an artery which causes stroke like symptoms which resolve quickly (usually within 30 minutes) when the clot dislodges.
TIA's are WARNING SIGNS that a full blown stroke may happen and anyone who has one should seek medical advice as soon as possible.
I hope that your friend makes some recovery soon and is getting speech and language therapy and good nursing care.
Very inclusive post. Inflammation seems to be the culprit whatever caused the inflammation. What are your thoughts on utilizing baking soda powder in water to keep maintain a higher alkaline level?
"Blood clots are also common after extended periods of immobility such as hospitalization or when travelling on a plane, a car, or train. Blood tends to pool and coagulate during long periods of immobility"
But these blood clots are in the venous circulation and do not cause strokes or TIA's (mini strokes) which are clots in the arterial circulation.
Thank you.
At the moment my relative (very fit person, long distance runner) is on a tube feed at home. Family is looking after him, the Stroke affected the ability to eat or drink via mouth, the feed tube is through the nose!!!
Thank you for all your response.
Raised homocysteine can be a marker for heart issues and strokes ... so maybe his B12 & Folate levels are LOW.
At the end of the day - we can have all the "tests" that we like ( in my case a Calcium score test was all I needed to "warn" me that I needed to change things) but we really don't need any of these tests to make us realise that we need to live healthy lives. Sooner or later we will all die of something - but living a healthy life will possibly extend and improve it . As is said - there are old people and there are fat people - but there are no old fat people!!!! Most of these things like heart related problems and cancer come unexpectedly out of nowhere to us - but they haven't really come from nowhere, they have been with us all along for many years except we just didn't know it. Some tests will inform us of possible future problem - but the big question after we come to know that , is "what do we do now" ?????
when I was 30 I ha dtwo mini strokes due tpt he excessive pressure caused ex 2nd husaband and his brothers sisters kids from his first marriage and being badly beaten
you say that this person's blood lab results were under control? By that you mean that they are within the normal ranges? Unfortunately, what's "normal" today isn't very healthy! The range for cholesterol is (I believe) higher than what's actually safe. Under 200 is acceptable to most doctors, but I believe it should be 150 or less. Yes, the same process that blocks the heart's coronary arteries will also block the body's other arteries, causing deteriorating backs, ED, and even strokes.
Eating well now doesn't necessarily reverse the "sins of youth". Most who have eaten the average western diet already have some blockage in their 20's! There's only one diet that I'm aware of that can clear out the arteries to the brain, heart, lower back, etc. I'm on this diet exactly for that reason. Here's a short video if you are interested:
What are simple refined carbs?
What supplements are people taking
High cholesterol, what to do?
COULD FATIGUE BE CAUSED BY ATORAVASTATIN
Aspirin -can it cause IBS with constipation?