• If you are over 50, you are due for a baseline EKG. Your doctor may mention that you have signs of atrial fibrillation, a defective movement of the heart's upper chambers (the atria). It increases the likelihood of a stroke caused by a blood clot forming in the heart and traveling to the brain. In most cases, atrial fibrillation should be treated with the blood thinner, warfarin (Coumadin).
   
  If you have had a TIA or stroke recently, you should also discuss with your doctor the option of having a carotid endarterectomy. This procedure involves clearing fatty plaque from one or both carotid arteries, the main arteries that run up the neck on the way to the brain. The procedure is not without risks, and the potential benefits must be carefully considered for each individual. It is more likely to be worthwhile for those with severe artery disease, and for those who have recently experienced a stroke or TIA.

Recognize a stroke and act quickly
 
Most important of all, know the symptoms of a stroke. Don't waste time trying to contact your regular doctor. Medications that can stop a stroke in its tracks and even reverse it are available, but must be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms. Symptoms of a stroke include:

• Sudden blurred or decreased vision, possibly in only one eye

• Sudden weakness of any part of the body

• Difficulty speaking or understanding conversation

• Dizziness or loss of coordination

• Sudden intense headache

If any one of these occur, call a heart specialist immediately. Because strokes don't cause pain, many people with minor or only fleeting symptoms adopt a "wait-and-see" approach, a mistake that can lead to permanent disability or even be fatal.