Latest news with #SamanthaGomez
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Canadian beauty queen couldn't believe she was having a stroke at 23: ‘The possibility...was completely out of the question'
Samantha Gomez never imagined she'd have a stroke — even when she was actively experiencing one. One morning in February of 2017, Gomez was hustling around the house getting ready for work. It was a routine morning for the 23-year-old — except it was taking her longer than usual to shower and get dressed. Things took a turn in the kitchen, when she went to pour herself a bowl of cereal. 'I completely missed the bowl,' Gomez, now 32, tells Yahoo Canada. 'At that point, my coordination was completely out the window.' After she tidied up the cereal that littered the countertop, Gomez turned her attention to starting her car. But she couldn't find the keys. 'I still did not clue in that something was wrong, I was just so rushed to get to work,' she remembers eight years later. Gomez called her now-husband, Rob, to ask if he took her keys, but the words weren't coming out right. 'I kept asking him, 'Where are my limes?' Instead of saying 'keys,' I kept saying 'limes,'" she says. On the other end of the phone, her partner was getting concerned. Upstairs, her dad overheard Gomez getting upset. I kept asking him, 'Where are my limes?' Instead of saying keys, I kept saying Gomez 'My dad came downstairs and said 'What's going on?'" Gomez recalls. 'That's when it dawned on me something was wrong. No one is understanding me.' As her dad called 911, panic settled in. By the time an ambulance arrived at the Bradford, Ont. home, Gomez could not speak at all. 'My speech was completely gone,' she says. 'I felt sick, nauseous and very very confused.' It turns out Gomez was experiencing the first symptoms of a severe ischemic stroke. A blood clot or blockage was disrupting blood flow to the brain, and it was affecting her speech and coordination. After being rushed to the nearest hospital, and then transferred to another, doctors confirmed the diagnosis: at just 23, Gomez had suffered a stroke. After recovering, Gomez participated in the 2018 Mrs. Universe Canada pageant, a platform she used to bring much-needed awareness to strokes — especially in young people. Even in the midst of her own medical emergency, a stroke was the last thing on her mind. 'The awareness for strokes, especially in young people, it's just not there,' Gomez says. 'The possibility of having a stroke was completely out of the question.' The reality is, strokes can happen to people of any age. According to a new report funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occur in people under 45, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young men. Even babies and toddlers can have strokes, though diagnosis of stroke in newborns and children is often delayed. 'Stroke is not a condition of elderly people anymore,' says Dr. Aleksandra Pikula, chair of stroke prevention and cerebrovascular brain health at the University of Toronto and the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital. Pikula says stroke cases in younger people — particularly those under 45 — have increased by nearly 15 per cent in the decade. Stroke is not a condition of elderly people Aleksandra Pikula 'That's a pretty dramatic number,' she says. 'This young population also has a much higher rate of traditional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, alcohol use and drug use.' This is the case globally, the doctor says, including in high-income countries like Canada, the United States and in Europe. 'We can dissect that into what's happening specifically for women, and we are seeing that women aged 35 and younger have 44 per cent more likelihood to have an ischemic stroke than their male peers,' she adds. Researchers are trying to understand why, with some studies looking at the link between oral contraceptives and stroke. 'It seems that explains part of it,' Pikula agrees. 'We see that combined oral contraceptives can triple the risk of some types of ischemic stroke in young women.' She also adds that risk factors for stroke are even higher for women who smoke, have migraines with aura, have high blood pressure or have abdominal obesity. Prevention is key, Pikula says, and she advises people of all ages to to be checked for common risk factors for stroke and heart conditions, given that up to 80 per cent of strokes are preventable with lifestyle changes — which include healthy nutrition, stress management and around 20 minutes of daily physical activity. While Pikula says "signs of strokes are pretty unified between men and women," she adds that there are some "typical presentations for women." "They come with more headaches, with more confusion, with more dizziness, with more chest tightness," she explains. Sometimes, those symptoms can be dismissed if classic stroke symptoms aren't as severe. 'If you're doubting if this is something serious or not, it's better to be checked, so call 911,' Pikula says. 'Every single minute counts.' More than three in 10 Canadians cannot name any signs of stroke, according to the latest Heart and Stroke poll results. FAST is a simple way to remember signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This Canadian beauty queen couldn't believe she was having a stroke at 23: ‘The possibility...was completely out of the question'
Samantha Gomez never imagined she'd have a stroke — even when she was actively experiencing one. One morning in February of 2017, Gomez was hustling around the house getting ready for work. It was a routine morning for the 23-year-old — except it was taking her longer than usual to shower and get dressed. Things took a turn in the kitchen, when she went to pour herself a bowl of cereal. 'I completely missed the bowl,' Gomez, now 32, tells Yahoo Canada. 'At that point, my coordination was completely out the window.' After she tidied up the cereal that littered the countertop, Gomez turned her attention to starting her car. But she couldn't find the keys. 'I still did not clue in that something was wrong, I was just so rushed to get to work,' she remembers eight years later. Gomez called her now-husband, Rob, to ask if he took her keys, but the words weren't coming out right. 'I kept asking him, 'Where are my limes?' Instead of saying 'keys,' I kept saying 'limes,'" she says. On the other end of the phone, her partner was getting concerned. Upstairs, her dad overheard Gomez getting upset. I kept asking him, 'Where are my limes?' Instead of saying keys, I kept saying Gomez 'My dad came downstairs and said 'What's going on?'" Gomez recalls. 'That's when it dawned on me something was wrong. No one is understanding me.' As her dad called 911, panic settled in. By the time an ambulance arrived at the Bradford, Ont. home, Gomez could not speak at all. 'My speech was completely gone,' she says. 'I felt sick, nauseous and very very confused.' It turns out Gomez was experiencing the first symptoms of a severe ischemic stroke. A blood clot or blockage was disrupting blood flow to the brain, and it was affecting her speech and coordination. After being rushed to the nearest hospital, and then transferred to another, doctors confirmed the diagnosis: at just 23, Gomez had suffered a stroke. After recovering, Gomez participated in the 2018 Mrs. Universe Canada pageant, a platform she used to bring much-needed awareness to strokes — especially in young people. Even in the midst of her own medical emergency, a stroke was the last thing on her mind. 'The awareness for strokes, especially in young people, it's just not there,' Gomez says. 'The possibility of having a stroke was completely out of the question.' The reality is, strokes can happen to people of any age. According to a new report funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occur in people under 45, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young men. Even babies and toddlers can have strokes, though diagnosis of stroke in newborns and children is often delayed. 'Stroke is not a condition of elderly people anymore,' says Dr. Aleksandra Pikula, chair of stroke prevention and cerebrovascular brain health at the University of Toronto and the Krembil Brain Institute at Toronto Western Hospital. Pikula says stroke cases in younger people — particularly those under 45 — have increased by nearly 15 per cent in the decade. Stroke is not a condition of elderly people Aleksandra Pikula 'That's a pretty dramatic number,' she says. 'This young population also has a much higher rate of traditional risk factors, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, alcohol use and drug use.' This is the case globally, the doctor says, including in high-income countries like Canada, the United States and in Europe. 'We can dissect that into what's happening specifically for women, and we are seeing that women aged 35 and younger have 44 per cent more likelihood to have an ischemic stroke than their male peers,' she adds. Researchers are trying to understand why, with some studies looking at the link between oral contraceptives and stroke. 'It seems that explains part of it,' Pikula agrees. 'We see that combined oral contraceptives can triple the risk of some types of ischemic stroke in young women.' She also adds that risk factors for stroke are even higher for women who smoke, have migraines with aura, have high blood pressure or have abdominal obesity. Prevention is key, Pikula says, and she advises people of all ages to to be checked for common risk factors for stroke and heart conditions, given that up to 80 per cent of strokes are preventable with lifestyle changes — which include healthy nutrition, stress management and around 20 minutes of daily physical activity. While Pikula says "signs of strokes are pretty unified between men and women," she adds that there are some "typical presentations for women." "They come with more headaches, with more confusion, with more dizziness, with more chest tightness," she explains. Sometimes, those symptoms can be dismissed if classic stroke symptoms aren't as severe. 'If you're doubting if this is something serious or not, it's better to be checked, so call 911,' Pikula says. 'Every single minute counts.' More than three in 10 Canadians cannot name any signs of stroke, according to the latest Heart and Stroke poll results. FAST is a simple way to remember signs of stroke: Face – is it drooping? Arms – can you raise both? Speech – Is it slurred or jumbled? Time to call 9-1-1 right away.
Malaysian Reserve
04-06-2025
- General
- Malaysian Reserve
What you don't know about stroke may surprise you
Heart & Stroke shares five essential facts everyone should know this Stroke Month TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ – June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn't. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don't know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don't understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**. 'This Stroke Month we are raising awareness to help people in Canada better understand stroke, take steps to prevent it, and recognize the signs and know what to do,' says Katie White, director of health systems, Heart & Stroke. 'Knowing this information can save lives.' Five Surprising Facts About Stroke 1. Stroke can happen at any ageWhile stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke. 2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people surviveA stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke. 'Before I had my stroke, I thought only older people could get them. I had no idea that I was even able to have one,' says Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada experienced a severe ischemic stroke at only 23 years old. 3. Stroke is linked to heart health'The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body' says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the Wong, a television producer, father and avid runner was in his 40s when he had a stroke. Tests eventually revealed that Ken was born with a small hole between the upper chambers in his heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) which can increase the risk of stroke caused by a clot. 'That's not necessarily why I had a stroke, but that could be the reason,' Ken recalls. 'Learning that was like a kind of resolution; a bit of relief.' 4. Stroke can be preventedUp to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed. 5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke: F Face, is it drooping? A Arms, can you raise them? S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled? T Time to call 9-1-1 right away Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country. 'There have been immense improvements in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but stroke is still a leading cause of death and adult disability,' says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. 'This Stroke Month we invite everyone in Canada to join us as we continue to take action to beat stroke.' *National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group.** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 – June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group. For more information: Backgrounder Download the FAST signs of stroke More information about stroke About Heart & Stroke Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. @HeartandStroke
Cision Canada
03-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
What you don't know about stroke may surprise you Français
Heart & Stroke shares five essential facts everyone should know this Stroke Month TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn't. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don't know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don't understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**. "This Stroke Month we are raising awareness to help people in Canada better understand stroke, take steps to prevent it, and recognize the signs and know what to do," says Katie White, director of health systems, Heart & Stroke. "Knowing this information can save lives." Five Surprising Facts About Stroke 1. Stroke can happen at any age While stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke. 2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people survive A stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young men. The number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke. "Before I had my stroke, I thought only older people could get them. I had no idea that I was even able to have one," says Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada experienced a severe ischemic stroke at only 23 years old. 3. Stroke is linked to heart health "The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body" says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded researcher. Heart conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the body. Ken Wong, a television producer, father and avid runner was in his 40s when he had a stroke. Tests eventually revealed that Ken was born with a small hole between the upper chambers in his heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) which can increase the risk of stroke caused by a clot. "That's not necessarily why I had a stroke, but that could be the reason," Ken recalls. "Learning that was like a kind of resolution; a bit of relief." 4. Stroke can be prevented Up to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed. 5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke: F Face, is it drooping? A Arms, can you raise them? S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled? T Time to call 9-1-1 right away Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country. "There have been immense improvements in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but stroke is still a leading cause of death and adult disability," says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. "This Stroke Month we invite everyone in Canada to join us as we continue to take action to beat stroke." * National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group. ** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 - June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group. For more information: Backgrounder Download the FAST signs of stroke More information about stroke About Heart & Stroke Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. @HeartandStroke
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What you don't know about stroke may surprise you
Heart & Stroke shares five essential facts everyone should know this Stroke Month TORONTO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ - June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn't. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don't know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don't understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**. "This Stroke Month we are raising awareness to help people in Canada better understand stroke, take steps to prevent it, and recognize the signs and know what to do," says Katie White, director of health systems, Heart & Stroke. "Knowing this information can save lives." Five Surprising Facts About Stroke 1. Stroke can happen at any ageWhile stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke. 2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people surviveA stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke. "Before I had my stroke, I thought only older people could get them. I had no idea that I was even able to have one," says Samantha Gomez. The former Mrs. Universe Canada experienced a severe ischemic stroke at only 23 years old. 3. Stroke is linked to heart health"The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body" says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the Wong, a television producer, father and avid runner was in his 40s when he had a stroke. Tests eventually revealed that Ken was born with a small hole between the upper chambers in his heart, called a patent foramen ovale (PFO) which can increase the risk of stroke caused by a clot. "That's not necessarily why I had a stroke, but that could be the reason," Ken recalls. "Learning that was like a kind of resolution; a bit of relief." 4. Stroke can be preventedUp to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed. 5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke: F Face, is it drooping? A Arms, can you raise them? S Speech, is it slurred or jumbled? T Time to call 9-1-1 right away Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country. "There have been immense improvements in awareness, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, but stroke is still a leading cause of death and adult disability," says Doug Roth, CEO, Heart & Stroke. "This Stroke Month we invite everyone in Canada to join us as we continue to take action to beat stroke." *National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group.** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 - June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group. For more information: Backgrounder Download the FAST signs of stroke More information about stroke About Heart & Stroke Life. We don't want you to miss it. That's why Heart & Stroke has been leading the fight to beat heart disease and stroke for more than 70 years. We must generate the next medical breakthroughs, so Canadians don't miss out on precious moments. Together, with the generous support of our donors, partners and volunteers we are working to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery through research, health promotion and public policy. @HeartandStroke SOURCE Heart and Stroke Foundation View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
