During a post-telecast of the Grammy’s, television reporter Serene Branson’s speech became slurred.
Many medical experts believe the young and attractive Branson may have suffered a stroke or mini-stroke.
Also, Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, suffered a stroke last May. At the time of his stroke, Beau was only 41 years of age. Beau seemed to be in relatively good health with no weight issues.
According to Dr. David S. Liebeskind, associate director of the UCLA Stroke Center, strokes are not unheard-of in people that age. Liebsekind said, "It doesn't surprise me at all. Overall, the perception is that only older people have strokes, but we see a lot of people who have strokes at that age, even younger sometimes."
People of all ages, even children have strokes. In the U.S., strokes are the number three killer. Women account for more than half of all stroke deaths. Pregnant women have a higher risk of stroke. African-Americans have a much higher risk of death from stroke due to complications from obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
According to the American Heart Association, the following are warning signs of a stroke:
• Slurred speech or trouble speaking
• Sudden confusion and understanding
• A severe and sudden headache
• Vision issues. Difficulty seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body (face, arm, leg)
• Trouble walking, loss of coordination or balance, dizziness
If a stroke occurs, every second counts.
If someone you know has one or more of the above signs for more than a few minutes, call 911 immediately.
There have been advancements in prevention and treatment of a stroke. Tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, is a major advancement in the treatment of stroke. However, this clog-busting drug must be administered within the first three hours of the first symptom of a stroke.
If the above symptoms only last a few minutes, this may be known as TIA, or transient ischemic attack. A TIA, also known as a mini or little stroke, leaves no lasting damage to the brain. However, if someone suffers one or more TIAs, they are more than likely to suffer a stroke. Also, in more than half the cases, a stroke with occur within one year. TIAs can occur days or weeks even before a stroke.
If a stroke occurs, the most important this is to remember the warning signs and call 911 immediately.
Sources:
http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1056719919740HSFacts2003text.pdf
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/17/health/la-he-stroke-20100517
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/Impact-of-Stroke_UCM_310728_Article.jsp
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110215/ts_yblog_thecutline/reporters-bizarre-on-air-episode-raises-questions