Stress is a part of most peoples’ daily lives and has been linked in a wide variety of medical conditions including stroke, which is the fifth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the U.S. According to the medical team at the California Institute of Neuroscience in Westlake Village, it’s actually “distress” not merely stress that is the culprit. In recognition of National Stress Awareness Month, the team explain the distinction between stress and distress and offer lifesaving tips to cope with the symptoms.
“Most of us deal with stress on a daily basis but it’s when it rises to the level of distress that we should become concerned,” said brain surgeon Martin Mortazavi, M.D. the institute’s medical director and founder. “When we are under stress, we emit a hormone called cortisol that increases our blood pressure. When we are distressed — that is when our stress level is unrelenting and at high intensity — our chances of stroke are 4 times more likely to occur. This is because these hormones lead to high blood pressure, which is the leading cause of stroke as well as such stroke risk factors as diabetes, atherosclerosis and heart disease.”
A stroke may be caused by a blocked artery or the leaking or bursting of a blood vessel in the brain. Among the symptoms:
• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes
• Sudden difficulty walking or dizziness, loss of balance or problems with coordination
• Severe headache with no known cause
Neurosurgeon, Ha Son Nguyen, M.D., also on staff at the California Institute of Neuroscience says the public should be more proactive so that they don’t fall victim to stroke.
“So many of our patients could have avoided their predicament by adhering to a healthier lifestyle,” said Nguyen. “By stopping smoking, exercising (even light exercise), and cutting out greasy & fatty foods, sweets and processed items, you substantially increase your odds of stroke”
Fellow institute medical team member, Stroke Neurologist, M. Asif Taqi, M.D., says, “Three of the most common causes of distress stem from financial worry, workplace issues and difficult personal relationships. I advise my patients to seek help in dealing with these life challenges by putting a plan together to problem solve and even securing professional assistance, if it comes to that.”
California Institute of Neuroscience has earned a stellar reputation in the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment and post-surgical aspects of arange of disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and cerebrovascular system. The team, who are experts at treating aneurysms, AVM, skull base tumors such as pituitary tumors, acoustic neuromas, and meningiomas, trigeminal neuralgia, and any other medical condition related to the brain and spine, employ the safest and latest technology to give patients a new lease on life.
Among the areas of specialty: neurology, neurosurgery, psychology, psychiatry, cranial maxillofacial plastic surgery, spine/peripheral neurosurgery and neuro-ophthalmology. These comprehensive services offer the patient a holistic approach to care not commonly found in typical neurosurgical practices. Visit cineuro.org or call (805) 795-7656.