Good afternoon, Lydia. Having a stroke places you at higher risk of having another one, compared to people who have not had a stroke. Look at this information to better understanding strokes. http://www.pbs.org/secondopinion/episodes/stroke/

My mother had a massive stroke 5 years ago which almost killed her. She hasn't had another one since. My best wishes to your aunt.

Im not sure how that works Lydia, but my sister had a stroke when she was 42, she has been fine since with no health problems at all and she will be 60 this year. Hope all goes well with your aunt, im thinking of you all and will include her in my prayers. (((hugs)))

First, it depends on why she had the stroke, and what type of medications she is on. Hopefully not. I will pray for her.

After any stroke or mini-stroke (TIA), there is a risk of another stroke. Your aunt needs an evaluation as to what the cause of the 1st event was. Medications such as coumadin, aspirin or plavix can reduce the chance of another stroke but depend on the cause. In some cases a procedure such as fixing a narrowed artery in the neck or taking coumadin for an irregular heart beat can have a tremendous effect and reduce the chance of a second devastating event. See my article on "Cardiac Causes of Stoke" for more details.

hi my dad had a mild stroke on the 7th march 09. it affected his speech, face, slight weekness in his right hand, he is still in hospital.they have said that he know has an irregular heart beat ,but he is complaining of pain in back of his neck, is he at high risk of having another stroke, lynne.

The damage caused by a stroke can be widespread and long-lasting. Many people need to have a long period of rehabilitation before they can recover their former independence. The process of rehabilitation will be specific to you, and will depend on your symptoms and their severity. A team of specialists are available to help, including physiotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and specialist nurses and doctors. The damage that a stroke causes to your brain can impact on many aspects of your life and wellbeing, and depending on your individual circumstances, you may require a number of different treatment and rehabilitation methods. Psychological impact The two most common psychological conditions found in people after a stroke are: * depression - many people experience intense bouts of crying and feel hopeless and withdrawn from social activities, * anxiety disorder - many people experience general feelings of fear and anxiety, often punctuated by intense, uncontrolled feelings of anxiety (anxiety attack). Unfortunately having had a stroke puts you at risk for another. Of the 700,000 strokes that occur each year in the United States, almost 30 percent of them are repeat strokes. You have a 25-40 percent chance of having another stroke in the next 5 years if you have already had a stroke. People who suffer a major stroke have a one in 20 chance of a second, smaller, stroke within a week, a study has found. UK researchers looked at 18 different samples, totalling 10,126 patients, to assess the risk of repeat strokes. Previously estimates of the risk had ranged from zero to over one in eight.And a repeat stroke is frequently more devastating than the first. ... you modify your lifestyle, you can reduce your chances of suffering another stroke. Doctors at Oxford University’s Stroke Research Unit found that the risk averaged out at 5.2%, just over one in 20. Lipitor Reduces Repeat Stroke Risks. Stroke survivors often lose their physical conditioning and adopt a sedentary lifestyle that limits their performance of daily activities and increases their risk of falling. Inactivity may also heighten the risk for repeated stroke and cardiovascular disease. As a stroke survivor, you can take steps to reach your optimal level of functioning and well-being and reduce the chance of having another stroke or a cardiac event by: 1. Using appropriate medications 2. Modifying key risk factors The American Heart Association identifies the key risk factors as hypertension, abnormal blood lipids and lipoproteins, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity and diabetes. Because physical inactivity is a major risk factor, physical conditioning is a cornerstone of today’s strategies for preventing and treating stroke and cardiovascular disease. Studies have demonstrated the physiological, psychological, sensory and motor, strength, endurance and functional benefits of various types of aerobic activity. 1. Research shows that aggressive rehabilitation beyond the usual 6 months after a stroke increases aerobic capacity and improves sensory and motor function. 2. An aerobic program can reduce multiple cardiovascular risk factors and therefore have important implications for medical management of stroke survivors. 3. Evidence now suggests that stroke survivors can undergo physical training just as successfully as healthy people of the same age. Regular physical activity is an important component of a stroke risk-reduction program. Studies have documented that it reduces the risk of dying from stroke or a cardiac event in stroke survivors as well as able-bodied people. As soon as possible after a stroke, patients need to start a therapy regime designed to restore the activity level they experienced before their stroke6. An aerobic therapy program can also enhance glucose regulation and help reduce body weight and fat stores, blood pressure (especially high blood pressure) and cholesterol levels.