LETHBRIDGE – Strokes are the third leading cause of death in Canada, but even when they do not take lives, they can have enormous, lasting impacts on survivors. June is Stroke Month, and local health officials are urging residents to learn more about stroke symptoms and treatment.
“I knew that there was something wrong, but I didn’t know what,” said Mike Gerzanich, speaking just a week after suffering his fifth stroke. “It was on my right side, not my left. The rest of them were all on my left.”
Gerzanich’s first stroke was in 2003 when he was only 43 years old. He had another ten years later on Mother’s Day and can feel how the attacks have changed him.
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“I used to be a fairly smart guy; university degree. But, as you can tell now, I talk very slow. Some people don’t even want to talk to me because I talk too slow.”
During a stroke, interruption of blood flow or the rupture of blood vessels causes brain cells to die.
“Every minute that goes by, you’re losing about two million neurons,” said Dr. Toni Winder, neurologist at Chinook Regional Hospital. “Ten minutes you’ve lost 20 million neurons. Thirty minutes, you’ve lost 60 million neurons.”
That’s why stroke experts say think ‘FAST’. In their latest campaign, the Heart and Stroke Foundation says to recognize stroke symptoms in the face, arms and speech, then act immediately.
“You have a better chance to have effective rehabilitation,” said Dr. Winder. “So it’s absolutely, critically important.”
“That’s the key right there,” agreed Gerzanich. “Timing, timing, timing.”
Strokes can happen to anyone; old or young. A healthy, active lifestyle reduces the risk of a stroke, but doesn’t eliminate it completely. How a victim responds when blood flow to the brain is interrupted can be the difference between death and a manageable recovery.
“That’s what happened to me,” said Gerzanich of his fifth stroke. “Thank God it did.”
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