Surviving Strokes: Misdiagnosis and Communication Challenges

Amanda Lenza, a 32-year-old woman from Ohio, suffered a stroke after experiencing a five-day headache. She was diagnosed with fibromuscular dysplasia, which causes abnormal cell growth in the artery walls, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain. Doctors suspect a recent illness could have caused a rupture in her weakened arteries. Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the US, and as many as one in seven people age 15 to 49 will suffer the event. Warning signs of a stroke include face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, and time to call 911. Immediate treatment for a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke can substantially reduce the risk of a much deadlier major stroke.