General responses to selected questions from Joel Braunstein, MD, of Johns Hopkins University and Joseph Toscano, MD.

Question:

I have been told I had a cardio-vascular stroke. I can find no information about this. It was just a brief phone call to keep me updated, so I'm trying to learn anything I can. Your help will be appreciated. Sincerely, William Jackson

Answer:

I am curious to know who informed you that you previously experienced a stroke. As you probably know, a "cerebrovascular accident", or "stroke", as it is more commonly referred, is a serious condition and a major cause of death and disability among older individuals. It is very important for you and one of your close family members or friends to carry on a detailed discussion with the physician or health care professional who informed you of your stroke by telephone. In general, these discussions best take place in person, since stroke is a complicated condition warranting a thorough understanding of its causes and implications. At minimum, you should try to understand the cause of your stroke (if known), how might the stroke impact your future physical and cognitive abilities, what is your risk of developing another stroke in the future, and what treatments should you receive to best protect yourself from developing such a stroke in the future.

To learn more information about stroke, I also refer you to an exceptional website maintained by the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org), which describes the essentials of current recognition, treatment, and prognosis.