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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How Can A Stroke Be Prevented?

My father in law, my husband and now my son have all had a stroke like episode in their 30 s. all had severe headache, lack of balance, numbness, vision blurring... it was 30+ years in between each of their episodes. My husband was misdiagnosed with MS in the late 1980 s. ten years later he had a second episode and was told he had vertebral artery dissection and not MS. My grandson is nine years old and complains of a sore stiff neck. This seems to be genetic or hereditary. How do we begin to put into place a plan to help my grandson to not have to go through what the others have gone through?
Wed, 18 Jul 2018
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Neurologist,  's  Response
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.

Arterial dissection at young age is often related to a disorder of the connective tissue which may well be hereditary. Of course it's hard to diagnose them online as there are many different connective tissue disorders involving different organs, at times they can't be classified as they are limited to only one family. So to check that possibility it is first started with a general physical exam to check for particular constitution types, abnormalities of the skin and joint elasticity, bone length etc. Genetic testing may be done for some known conditions. If nothing abnormal is observed skin biopsy may show connective tissue changes. Whether a connective tissue disorder is evidenced or not though, from a practical point of view the only thing which can be done to prevent stroke would be to avoid traumatic events and taking Aspirin. Unless there is a genetic diagnosis though I wouldn't recommend starting Aspirin in a 9 year old.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
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How Can A Stroke Be Prevented?

Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Arterial dissection at young age is often related to a disorder of the connective tissue which may well be hereditary. Of course it s hard to diagnose them online as there are many different connective tissue disorders involving different organs, at times they can t be classified as they are limited to only one family. So to check that possibility it is first started with a general physical exam to check for particular constitution types, abnormalities of the skin and joint elasticity, bone length etc. Genetic testing may be done for some known conditions. If nothing abnormal is observed skin biopsy may show connective tissue changes. Whether a connective tissue disorder is evidenced or not though, from a practical point of view the only thing which can be done to prevent stroke would be to avoid traumatic events and taking Aspirin. Unless there is a genetic diagnosis though I wouldn t recommend starting Aspirin in a 9 year old. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.