Chronic Disease Risk

Chronic Disease Risk Assessment for Stroke

Donna Elaine Mann

SCI/162

January 25, 2013

Virginia Dale, RN, MBA, MSN

Taking a risk assessment estimates your risk of developing a stroke. Risks factors are important. Identifying which factors contribute to your risk and what you can do to reduce your risk of developing stroke, will reduce your chances of having a stroke. Strokes are common in the United States with about 700,000 new cases per year. Stroke is the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. By taking action, you will be able to reduce your chances of developing stroke and its complications. Today stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability and contributes a significant amount to medical expenses for older people, especially women.

Description of the disease

A stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident, or “brain attack”. This occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. They can be caused by plaque formation that narrows the blood flow or a clot that obstructs a blood vessel or weakening of a blood vessel that causes it to bulge or rupture. The sudden reduction in blood supply causes injury to brain tissue. Permanent damage is called a stroke. Temporary injury that resolves within 24 hours is called transient ischemic attack (TIA). About 15 percent of all major stokes are preceded by TIA’s. Symptoms include dizziness, temporary memory loss, blurred vision, nausea, headache, slurred speech, or other unusual physiological reactions. Some people experience unexpected falls or even blackouts, however, some may not have any obvious symptoms. About 8 percent of all deaths in both men and women are caused by strokes. Women are more likely to die of a stroke than of breast cancer.

Risk factors for the disease

The main risk factors for stroke include obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, and several other dietary and laboratory factors....