Stroke: Death of TV Actor Confirms Trend
More young people are dying as a result of strokes, according to data By Ernst Lamothe Jr.
T
he news of TV star Luke Perry’s death hit people hard for many reasons. Some were his long-time fans. Others were just shocked about the speed in which he went from being hospitalized to being dead. Finally, many people just couldn’t believe that someone could die of stroke, especially someone in their 50s (he was 52 when he died). “Strokes are very common, and they are more likely to cause disability than death,” said Mary Dombovy, vice president of neurosciences for Rochester Regional Health. “People have to understand that many of the same risk factors that people have for heart attacks like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes are also causes of strokes.” Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide, according to the American Stroke Association and there are an estimated 17 million strokes worldwide each year. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. killing 140,000 people a year. It is also the leading cause of disability among Americans, as it can leave survivors paralyzed or unable to communicate. When a stroke happens, part of the brain is being starved of oxygen because of a blocked blood vessel. The faster hospital officials can un-block that blood vessel, the better chance of limiting the size of the stroke. They can unblock blood vessels in two ways: alteplase tPA or tissue plasminogen activator, which is a clot busting medication that can dissolve the blood clot and restore blood flow to the brain. Some clots are too big to be dissolved, and in this case, a doctor in-
serts a catheter into an artery, snakes it up to the brain and pulls the clot out with a special device that looks like a net. Both of these treatments need to be done very quickly after a stroke starts in order to be effective. “Most people with a stroke will survive, but with lasting effects from the stroke, such as weakness, speech problems, balance problems or cognitive problems,” said. physician Kelly Matmati, director of the stroke program at Rochester General Hospital. Actor Perry was slightly young for a stroke victim, as 66 percent of those who suffer from such an attack are 65 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But strokes, which are behind about 5% of U.S. deaths annually, are on the rise among those between 25 and 44. Perry’s father died in his mid-30s from a heart attack. “Stroke can happen at any age, although it becomes more common as we get older,” said Matmati. “This is especially important in people of working age, as it may take them out of the workforce. And in older patients it can mean a loss of independence.” Dombovy said it’s important to understand that people should be hopeful even after their diagnosis. “Having a stroke is not a death sentence,” she said. “People think you would be disabled for the rest of your life and there is no treatment. Number one, we have treatment that can improve your outcome after a stroke. We have treatment that can help people who have trouble using their arms or speaking to keep them independent. It is not the end of your
Actor Luke Perry died recently at age 52. life as you know it. But we do want to stress people that time matters. The last suggestion is keeping in good shape. “You don’t have to be a gym rat even walking 30 minutes a day can
be effective. The better your heart and lungs are the more oxygen they pump into your brain and you will be in better condition to improve.”
Safe Ways to Get Rid of Expired, Unused Medicine By Jim Miller
C
leaning out the medicine cabinet is a chore that most people don’t think about, but it’s an important task that can help prevent medication problems, and protect children who may have access to these old, unused drugs. Here’s how you can clean out your mother’s medicine cabinet so it’s safe and useful.
Return Them
Your local pharmacy, as well as hospitals, clinics, long-term-care facilities and narcotic treatment programs, might accept your unused medications, often as part of programs that collect and destroy unused drugs. Search for an authorized facility near you at DisposeMyMeds. org. You can also drop off her unused meds at designated police departments, fire stations and other sites on certain dates. To find a collection site near you, visit TakeBackDay.dea.gov.
Use a Disposal Kiosk
Many Walgreens and CVS stores Page 12
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have free, anonymous and secure kiosks where you can dispose of any medication. Remove your personal information from the packaging and drop unwanted medication, including opioids, in the slot.
Mail Them
Costco, Rite Aid and CVS pharmacies sell postage-paid envelopes for customers to mail any prescription, including opioids and over-thecounter medications, to a disposal facility.
Throw Them Out
If mailing them in or getting to one of the drop-off sites is not an option, you can dispose of them yourself, but do so carefully. The Food and Drug Administration recommends taking the medications out of their original bottles and putting them in a sealable plastic bag with an undesirable substance like coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter. Then seal the plastic bag and throw it in the trash. This will make the medication less appealing to children, pets or
other people who may fish through your trash. But don’t do this with dangerous drugs, such as opioids, which can be abused. For these, the FDA says flushing them down the toilet is OK. But trace amounts of drugs can end up in the water supply so this should be done only as a last resort. To see the FDA list of medications that should be flushed when they are no longer needed, go to FDA.gov and type “flush list” into the search box. Or, another option is to purchase some medication disposal bags like the Medsaway Medication Disposal System. These are carbon pouches that are designed to neutralize all medication including narcotics, liquid medication, transdermal patches and controlled substances so you can just add water, and toss them in the trash. You can find medication disposal bags at some local pharmacies or online at Amazon.com for around $15. You’ll also want to make sure to scratch out all your mom’s personal information on the empty medicine bottles or other packaging before
IN GOOD HEALTH – Rochester / Genesee Valley Healthcare Newspaper • May 2019
throwing it away to protect her identity and privacy. If you have other questions about proper drug disposal, talk to your pharmacist.
Health Tip: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults
Every 11 seconds, an elderly person is taken to the hospital for a fall-related injury, says the U.S. National Council on Aging. Though the number is staggering, most falls are preventable, the council says. The council encourages elderly people to: • Find a balance and exercise program. • Speak with a health care provider. • Regularly review your medications and note side effects. • Get your vision and hearing checked annually. • Keep your home safe. • Enlist the support of family members.