Preventing Strokes
Stroke is a serious health issue that affects about 500,000 Americans each year. If you suspect someone is having a stroke, it’s important to call for an ambulance quickly. Early intervention and treatment can greatly improve the person’s recovery from the stroke.
This causes the blood clot to break down and form plaque, which then clogs the arteries to your brain – which can be fatal if left untreated. About 85% of all strokes are ischemic strokes and are caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies oxygen-rich blood to the organ.
When hemorrhagic strokes occur, they can damage brain cells by leaking blood or rupturing the vessel in the brain.
The Causes of Strokes
Strokes are caused by a blockage in the blood supply to the brain.
Can you prevent a Stroke?
Yes, there are ways to help lower your risk for stroke. Some of these include getting enough exercise, eating healthy, and not smoking.
Hypertension
Hypertension is a common condition that increases your chances of suffering a stroke. This article in Hypertension says that 43 million people are affected by high blood pressure in the United States.
If an individual is 60-years or older, hypertension is defined as a blood pressure that’s greater than 150/90 mm Hg. When the individual is under 60-years of age, hypertension will be defined as a blood pressure that’s greater than 140/90 mm Hg.
A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that less than 30-percent of people being treated for high blood pressure have a blood pressure reading less than 140/90 mm Hg.
Hypertension is the most common (and modifiable) risk factor for stroke. Therapy for hypertension can reduce the risk of stroke by lowering the chance of a cerebral event. A recent article in Lancet demonstrated that a 5- to 6mmHg decrease in diastolic pressure reduced neurological events by around 34%.
The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) study shows treatment for isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly reduces the risk of stroke by 36%.
Myocardial Infarction
Myocardial infarction is a major risk factor for stroke. It is directly related to and caused by atherosclerosis, which happens over time because of the blockage of your arteries.
Chest reports that the occurrence of ischemic stroke after a heart attack at approximately 1- to 2% per year. A recent Israeli clinical trial concluded the risk for stroke is highest in that first month after MI at 31%.
Treatment following a heart attack might include anticoagulants (also known as blood thinners) and antiplatelet agents.
Warfarin (Coumadin) may be given to people with atrial fibrillation after a heart attack, decreased left ventricular function, or who have clots in their left ventricle.
A study by the American College of Physicians found a decrease in strokes after MI of approximately 1% per year with warfarin.
A recent article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and using the same guidelines suggest aspirin, an antiplatelet agent, reduces your risk for stroke after a heart attack by about 30%.
How to Avoid Strokes & Take Measurements to Prevent Them
Strokes are the leading cause of disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes can be prevented through education, awareness, and taking measurements to prevent them.
The first step is to know your risk factors. Risk factors for strokes include: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, family history of stroke or heart disease.
The second step is to take measurements to prevent strokes from happening. These measurements include: maintaining a healthy weight and diet; quitting smoking; controlling your blood pressure; controlling your cholesterol levels; controlling your blood sugar levels; exercising regularly; reducing alcohol consumption.
The Importance of the Proper Diet in Preventing Strokes
You might be wondering what the connection is between diet and strokes, but there are many connections between diet and stroke.
The first connection is that a healthy diet can help prevent strokes. Eating healthy foods will help your body to produce more of the good cholesterol that prevents your arteries from becoming clogged. The second connection is that a poor diet can increase your risk of having a stroke. Eating unhealthy foods can lead to an increased risk of high blood pressure or diabetes, which are both risk factors for having a stroke.
The proper diet can help prevent strokes by preventing clogged arteries and by providing necessary nutrients for the body to function properly.
The Importance of Physical Activity in Preventing Strokes
Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. They are caused by the blockage or rupture of blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygen and nutrients. Studies show that physical activity can reduce the risk of developing a stroke.
Physical activity is an important part of our lives, but it’s not always easy to fit it into our busy schedules. However, regular physical activity has been shown to reduce your risk for stroke.
Heredity
Heredity is a phenomenon that allows members of a family to pass traits from one generation to the next. Genes, which are composed of DNA, provide instructions on how to make molecules called proteins.
Humans have two copies of each gene, one from each parent. The Genome Project estimates that humans have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes
A study suggests that a person may be at greater risk for stroke if a parent or other close relative has suffered one in the past. Researchers found that children with parents who suffered a stroke by 65-years of age were also likely to have one.
A study examined the impact of traditional stroke risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and heart attack. They concluded that individuals who experienced any of these things were more likely to have a stroke at any age and to have an increased risk by age 65.
Why Memory Lapses Could Be an Early Warning Sign of Stroke
A memory lapse is not a serious symptom of stroke, but it is an early warning sign of stroke.
The signs and symptoms of a stroke are often difficult to detect. Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing more than 130,000 people each year. Early detection can save lives and reduce disability.
How To Prevent A Recurrence Of A Stroke
A stroke is a life-threatening medical emergency that occurs when there is a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain. Strokes can cause permanent damage to the brain and can lead to death.
The best way to prevent strokes is by preventing high blood pressure, which is one of the major risk factors for strokes.
Why is Stroke Prevention Important?
Stroke prevention is important because it can help you avoid the risk of having a stroke. Strokes can be fatal and they can lead to disability.
There are many ways that you can help prevent a stroke. Some people choose to take medication, while others choose to make lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. One of the most important steps in preventing a stroke is knowing your risk factors so that you can take appropriate action if necessary.
How to Prevent Strokes Naturally
Strokes can be prevented by avoiding risk factors, such as smoking and high cholesterol. You can also do regular aerobic exercise, eat a healthy diet, maintain a healthy weight and avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
Diabetes risks and long-term damage
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes. These dangerous conditions are often the result of poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Lack of feeling in your extremities can also be caused by diabetes.
As a result of the reduced blood flow, nerve damage can happen. This usually leads to numbness, pain and/or a burning sensation starting in the hands or feet.
Poor blood circulation can often lead to serious infections which could be why minor injuries heal poorly and require amputations.
Poorly managed or untreated diabetes can lead to a number of health complications, such as digestive problems and kidney damage, as well as hearing and skin problems.
Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack
Individuals who have had a stroke are at increased risk of having another one, or a recurrent stroke. It is believed that up to 1 in 3 people who experience a stroke each year will have a recurrent one.
Recent studies have shown that the risk of a recurrent stroke increases by more than 40% within the 5 years after one. It’s also worth noting that, even within this time, over 24% of women and more than 42% of men will experience a second stroke.
A transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, can produce the same symptoms as a stroke but typically resolves within minutes to hours. Symptoms may include weakness, trouble speaking, vision problems or headache.
Medical emergencies such as TIA can lead to an increased risk of stroke. Nearly 50-percent of all strokes occur within a few days. [NOVA INTRO] According to the National Stroke Association, 40% of individuals who have a TIA will have an actual stroke.
Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in medicine and it’s well-known that it increases your chance of having a stroke. There are two types of diabetes, but in type 1 diabetes, insulin production is interrupted.
Insulin is a hormone that affects blood glucose levels. In type 2 diabetes, the body’s tissues are less responsive to insulin’s effects. Both types of diabetes result in high blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia
Diabetes is diagnosed when you have a fasting blood glucose level that’s equal to or higher than 126 mg/dl. Having diabetes puts you at an increased risk for myocardial infarction.
The American Diabetes Association reports that people with diabetes are 1.5-times more likely to have a stroke than people without diabetes Every 38 seconds, an American has a stroke.
Diabetics are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. This, in turn, puts them at a much higher risk of stroke. The UKPDS study showed that just a 25 percent reduction in the number of strokes with intensive glucose control could save around 5,000 lives a year – a great improvement for both patients and their loved ones.
Tips for Preventing a Stroke When You’re on the Road
Driving is one of the most dangerous things a person can do. One in five people will suffer from a stroke during their lifetime, and many of them will be drivers. The best way to stay safe while driving is by following these simple tips:
– Keep your speed at or below the speed limit
– Turn off electronics before you start driving
– Avoid eating anything while you’re driving
– Wear your seatbelt at all times
Tips for Preventing a Stroke When You’re at Work or Home Alone
1. A stroke can happen anywhere, and it can be very serious if you’re not prepared.
2. The best way to prevent a stroke is to know your risk factors and learn the warning signs so you can act quickly if one happens.
3. Know your risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, family history of stroke, heart disease or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat), and high cholesterol levels in the blood are all risk factors for stroke.
4. Some warning signs are weakness on one side of the body; slurred speech; sudden numbness in one part of the body; sudden vision changes such as blurred vision or double vision; trouble talking or understanding speech; dizziness or loss of balance; severe headache with no known cause that lasts for more than 5
Conclusion:
Strokes are a leading cause of death and disability in the United States. They are also the number one cause of serious, long-term disability among adults.
There are two types of strokes: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes happen when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a clot (thrombosis) or narrowed artery (atherosclerosis). Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain tissue.
Strokes can be prevented by quitting smoking, controlling high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, managing diabetes, reducing excessive weight, treating sleep apnea and avoiding illicit drug use.
Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is for informational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. This product is not intended to be a substitute or replacement for any medical treatment. Please seek the advice of a healthcare professional for your specific health concerns. Individual results may vary.
