Today I wanted to write about strokes. My grandmother had a mini-stroke a year ago, and it brought about some changes in the household.
First I want to write about Transient Ischemic Attack is also is known as a TIA or "Mini-stroke." This is what my grandmother had.
When a stroke occurs there is A temporary decrease in the blood supply to the brain which causes the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• visual changes
• weakness, numbness in one or more limbs
• difficulty swallowing

The TIA only lasts a few minutes to a few hours

A Cerebral Vascular Accident or a CVA  is a Stroke that is caused by a clot in a blood vessel or bleeding inside a blood vessel in the brain.
A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures and its also known as a bleed.
After a stroke there may be Behavioral changes which are:

• Depression
• Tearfulness
• personality shifts
• apathy

Sources: 

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113
2. http://www.stroke.org/understand-stroke/what-stroke
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/stroke_symptoms_and_treatment/article.htm
4. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/7624.php

Changes As We Get Older

Today I wanted to write about changes that come about with age.  Let’s first begin with the  Demographics of Aging:

Americans are getting older and living longer
life expectancy varies by gender and race
excess cost growth with increasing population aging
Unfortunately, we all will get older, and as we do, the risks for some issues get higher as well, and that brings me to the next section

The Leading Causes of Death in Older Adults are:

• Heart Diseases
• Malignant Neoplasms
• Cerebrovascular diseases
• COPD
• Alzheimer's
• Diabetes

As we get older, there are cardiovascular changes that occur in our bodies. We often get increased blood pressure, slower heart recovery rate, and a diminished response to stress. Respiratory changes also occur, with an increased residual volume, a decrease in muscle strength, vital capacity, and endurance. There is also a decreased gas exchange, which diffuses capacity.

The Integumentary System changes that occur are a decreased intestinal fluid, muscle tone, sensory reception and glandular activity. There is a diminished secretion of natural oils and perspiration. The Reproductive System Changes in  Females is narrowing of the vagina, decreased elasticity, decreased vaginal secretions and slower sexual response. In males, the changes in the reproductive system are testes that are no longer firm, decreased sperm production and slower sexual response.

Musculature System Changes include loss of bone density, loss of muscle strength, and degenerated joint cartilage.

Listed below are some more changes that occur as we get older:

1. detrusor instability (urge incontinence)
2. urethral dysfunction (stress urinary incontinence)
3. decreased sense of thirst,  smell, and taste
4. decreased salivation
5. difficulty swallowing food
6. reduced cerebral circulation (faint, loses balance)
7. cant focus on close objects
8. inability to tolerate glare
9. difficulty adjusting to light intensity changes
10. high-frequency hearing difficulty
11. Presbycusis which is the decreased ability to hear high-pitched tones that naturally begins in midlife as result of irreversible inner ear change

Sources:

1. https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/winter07/articles/winter07pg10-13.html
2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-art-and-science-aging-well/201705/how-does-our-body-change-we-age-part-1
3. https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/tc/healthy-aging-normal-aging#1
4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/aging/art-20046070