Test Your Knowledge of Stroke

Take this quiz, compiled by the experts at Alta Bates Summit’s Regional Stroke Center.

1. Which are warning signs of stroke?

a. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
b. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
c. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause
d. Blurred vision
e. All of the above

2. Where in the body does a stroke occur?

a. In the stomach
b. In the brain
c. In the heart
d. In the eyes

3. What happens during a stroke?

a. The heart suddenly stops beating
b. A blood clot enters the lungs, causing extreme coughing fits
c. A blood vessel in the brain bursts or is blocked by a clot, stopping oxygen from getting to the brain
d. A high fever causes fainting or difficult breathing

4. Which stroke fact is true?

a. On average, someone in the United States has a stroke every 45 seconds
b. On average, someone in the United States dies of a stroke every three minutes
c. Fifty percent of stroke deaths occur before the patient reaches the hospital
d. African Americans have a significantly higher death rate from strokes than any other racial/ethnic group.
e. All of the above

5. What are the risk factors for stroke?

a. High blood pressure
b. Diabetes
c. Heart disease
d. Smoking
e. Family history of stroke
f. Obesity
g. High cholesterol
h. All of the above

6 Once you’ve had a stroke, how much time do you have to get treatment for the best chance of a full recovery?

a. Three hours
b. Eight hours
c. 12 hours
d. 24 hours

7. What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

a. A mini-stroke
b. A temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain
c. A serious warning attack that may lead to a
complete stroke
d. All of the above

8. Which of the following are controllable risk factors for stroke? Select all that apply.

a. Smoking
b. High blood pressure
c. Heart disease
d. Increasing age
e. Diet

9. What should you do if you or someone else is
experiencing the symptoms of a stroke?

a. Take two aspirin and call the doctor in the morning
b. Rest in bed until the symptoms subside
c. Call 9-1-1 immediately
d. Keep talking to stay awake

Highlight this text for answers: 1.e, 2.b, 3.c, 4.e, 5.h, 6.a, 7.d, 8.a, b, c, e, 9.c

Depression and the Elderly

For many of us, the approaching holidays stir feelings of joy, gratitude, connectedness, and contentment. But for others, this season is a time when loss and loneliness are felt more acutely. Elderly adults, in particular, are susceptible to depression during the holidays.

An estimated 20 percent of adults age 65 and older suffer from depression; that figure may increase to 50 percent for people in nursing homes, according to the American Psychological Association. Depression often coexists with other serious illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

During the holidays, older adults might experience the blues more acutely because they are separated from loved ones; they might feel more aware of their financial limits and lack of independence; or they may feel more trapped in their isolation if they’re not able to get out of their house easily to attend church services or other meaningful traditions. These situations are serious, because when elderly people become depressed, they may lose the will to live and even contemplate suicide.

During the holiday season, seniors, as well as their caretakers and loved ones, should watch more closely for depression symptoms. For older adults, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends that before you say, “I’m fine,” you ask yourself if you feel any of the following:

• nervous or “empty"
• guilty or worthless
• very tired and slowed down
• restless and irritable
• like no one loves you
• like life is not worth living
• a lack of pleasure in the things you used to enjoy

“Other symptoms include weight gain or loss; changes in sleep pattern (an inability to sleep or excessive sleep); and a persistent change in mood that lasts longer than a week or two,” says Christopher Foley, program director for Geriatric and Medical Psychiatry Services at Alta Bates Summit.

“It’s important for elderly people—as well as their caretakers and loved ones—to realize that depression is not a normal part of aging,” says Foley. “Depression isn’t something inevitable or expected. It’s something we can treat, and older adults respond very well to treatment.”

Alta Bates Summit offers a full continuum of programs for people with both moderate and serious psychiatric illness, including inpatient care and day programs. Herrick is the largest and oldest acute psychiatric facility in Northern California. For questions about inpatient referrals, call (510) 204-4405. For outpatient programs, call (510) 204-5474.