Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/753672
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not just a concern for combat veterans. Stroke patients can develop this condition, too. POST-STROKE PTSD EACH YEAR, NEARLY 800,000 Americans experience a stroke, which is caused by a sudden interruption of blood to the brain due to a blockage or rupture in the blood vessels. Strokes typically occur with very little warning and can leave patients fighting for their lives, facing long-term or permanent disabilities, and coping with emotional side effects that can linger long after they return home from the hospital. "Many people who have a stroke feel that they have lost their identities," says Natalie Cheng, M.D., director of the Stroke Program at New York Methodist Hospital. "They may develop speaking or comprehension difficulties, which can really impair their ability to participate in normal or routine activities. This loss of control over one's own body can be very distressing." A COMMON OCCURRENCE Roughly one in four stroke survivors experience PTSD symptoms within 12 months following the event. Despite this frequency, many people do not know that PTSD is a possibility for stroke survivors. "Patients often know about post-stroke depression, but there appears to be a general lack of awareness when it comes to PTSD and stroke," Dr. Cheng says. "Those of us who treat stroke patients generally focus on medication and physical symptoms, but we also need to raise awareness about the emotional and mental side effects of a stroke." Signs of PTSD following a stroke can include: Insomnia—PTSD can cause sleep disruptions, which—if left untreated for an extended period of time—may raise the risk for additional health problems like cancer or cardiovascular disease. Depression—Stroke survivors with PTSD may no longer find joy in things that they used to and may withdraw from interpersonal relationships. Flashbacks—Vivid memories of the stroke may spark panic attacks in some stroke patients and could increase blood pressure and, along with it, the risk for having a second stroke. Recognizing the signs of PTSD following stroke is not always easy. "Because the major signs of PTSD are emotional and behavioral, the person living with the condition may not be the one to notice that there's a problem," says Jeffrey Benjamin, M.D., attending neurologist at NYM. "A loved one or caregiver will usually notice the symptoms first." WIN T ER 2 017/ / W W W.N Y M.O RG 8 T H E R I G H T C H O I C E S