Dear Dr. SerVaas: While reviewing our family health history, my mother said that my uncle Fred died of "apoplexy." I have never heard of this before and wondered if you could give me some information on the condition. Is it hereditary?

Kathleen Miller
Los Angeles, California

Dear Reader: Apoplexy is an old term for what we now call a stroke or, more technically, a cerebrovascular accident. It describes a sudden loss of body function caused by a hemorrhage or a blocked artery in the brain. Many, but not all, strokes cause paralysis. Symptoms include sudden vision change, severe dizziness, balance problems, or severe headache.

Investigators are studying whether strokes have a hereditary, or genetic, predisposition. People with untreated hypertension are at risk for stroke, especially if the top number is high. A wide range between the top and bottom blood pressure readings also raises stroke risk (see "Striking Out Against Strokes," SatEvePost, Jan./Feb. 2001).

New research data indicate that taking vitamin C may protect against stroke. Some physicians recommend taking a baby aspirin (81 mg) daily as a preventive measure.