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CVA and TIA (Cerebral Vascular Hemmorhage and Trans-ischemic Attack) = Stroke: By Carolyn: There are two basic types of strokes- 1: clot strokes that occur when a blood clot obstructs the blood flow to a certain portion of your brain. 2: bleeding strokes or a cerebral hemorrhage that are usually fatal. These occur when a brain aneurysm ruptures. With any type of stroke, however, the interruption of the blood flow lasts long enough to kill brain cells. This produces irreversible damage, unfortunately, and there are lasting physical and mental disabilities, depending upon the severity of the stroke. I have had two TIA's or embolic episodes prior to my major CVA or stroke. They are attacks of inadequate blood flow to the brain that produce sudden physical weakness, inability to talk, double vision or dizziness. These symptoms usually last about 15 minutes and may be a sign of an impending stroke. PLEASE, take them very seriously. Stroke patients are more susceptible to infectious diseases such as pneumonia. Depression often follows on the heels of a stroke, especially if it has been a major one. There are so many adjustments to be made in that case, trust me. You have to literally learn to live your life all over again but with very pronounced disabilities. In my case, it has been progressing from walking with a walker to a quad cane inside my home. For longer distances I depend upon my "little red chariot", one of those wonderful inventions, the battery operated scooter. The three months of intense physical therapy were the most grueling and agonizing physical experience I have ever had. That is saying a lot considering I am a retired police officer. My CVA/stroke also left me with a very marked and permanent speech disability that has been probably the hardest to deal with from an emotional standpoint. Younger persons are more apt to suffer bleeding strokes while older ones usually suffer the clot strokes. In my case it was just the opposite. There are numerous risk factors for strokes- high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol level, a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, abuse of certain stimulant drugs, smoking, heavy drinking, the use of birth control pills and stress. I was the proverbial “walking time-bomb” (out-of-control hypertension [high blood pressure], smoking and stress.) Also, the more TIAs you have the more likely you are to suffer a major stroke. It has now been nearly a year and a half since my stroke. I am more determined day by day not to be a statistic but a survivor. This surviving is not an easy thing to do, physically or emotionally. I came within seconds of the Lord calling me Home to be with Him. I was so close that I could actually see His glorious light and feel His sweet, sweet warmth. My son was with me that day at the hospital emergency room and he said that I had the most peaceful look on my face. Why not!
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