How To Avoid A Brain Attack
Ranking third behind heart disease and cancer, stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., but luckily some stroke risk factors can be controlled.
Strokes are much like heart attacks, but they occur in the brain rather than the heart. A stroke causes the blood supply to a part of the brain to be cut off or radically decreased. If blood supply to the brain is cut off long enough, brain cells die resulting in death or in permanent disability in certain functions.
Although strokes occur most often to older people they can happen to anyone regardless of their age. Stroke risk increases as we age. About three-fourths of all strokes happen to people who are over the age of 55.
Stroke Risk Factors
Some people are more at risk of having a stroke than others. Factors used in determining the risk of having a stroke are called stroke risk factors.
Various stroke risk factors are inherited while others are a function of natural processes or lifestyle. We cannot change factors that are related to heredity or natural processes like age, sex, heredity, and whether we've had a prior stroke. But we can modify risk factors that are a result of our lifestyle or environment. Some of these changes require the help of a healthcare professional.
Some Stroke Risk Factors that can be changed, treated or controlled according to the American Stroke Association
1. High blood pressure - High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.
2. Cigarette smoking - The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system.
3. Diabetes mellitus - Even though diabetes is treatable, its presence still increases the risk of stroke.
4. Poor diet - Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day may reduce the risk of stroke. Diets high in salt can contribute to high blood pressure and diets high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol raise blood cholesterol levels. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can increase the possibility of a stroke.
Other stroke risk factors
There are other, less well-documented stroke risk factors such as geographic location, socioeconomic factors, alcohol abuse, and drug abuse.
Stroke Prevention
None of us wants to fall prey to a deadly or debilitating stroke. We can decrease our chances of having a stroke by paying attention to stroke risk factors that are within our power to change, treat, or control.
In addition, we can make lifestyle changes that help us to maintain the best health possible. Here are seven healthy lifestyle habits that can reduce or eliminate our chances of heart disease and having a stroke.
1. Eliminate or cut down your intake of saturated fats and trans or hyrdrogenated fat.
Saturated fats are are found almost solely in dairy, animal products like meat, and eggs. They are the main source of dietary cholesterol. Bad cholesterol or LDL collects in our blood vessels as plaque. Plaque narrows the diameter of blood vessels, increasing blood pressure. The risk of arterial blockage is also increased.
2. Do not consume food with trans or hydrogenated fat.
This is usually fat that started out as unsaturated fat but was chemically changed to obtain a longer shelf-life. Most animal products have small amounts of naturally occurring trans fats. But the main source of trans fats is processed and fast food.
3. Do not Smoke
Smoking increases the risk of atherosclerosis, a build up of fatty tissue, mostly cholesterol, in blood vessels. This causes narrowing of the blood vessels, high blood pressure, and increased risk of blockages which can cut off the blood supply and lead to strokes.
4. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese typically leads to high blood pressure which puts stress on the heart and blood vessels. Maintain a healthy weight through exercise and a healthy diet.
5. Exercise
Exercise strengthens the heart muscles, keeps blood flowing smoothly, lowers blood pressure, increases oxygen intake, and helps maintain a healthy weight. All of these effects are beneficial for the heart and cardiovascular system.
6. Cut Down on Salt Intake
Salt is 40 percent sodium. Sodium has the effect of increasing blood pressure. As previously mentioned, high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke.
The salt shaker is not the only source of sodium. All processed foods today include sodium at well over what's considered a healthy amount.
Reduce your salt intake to no more than 2000 mg daily.
7. Add More Plants to Your Diet
Plant-based diets are high in fiber which is beneficial for heart health and high in vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals which have proven benefits for not only cardiovascular health but optimal health in general. They contain little or no saturated and trans fats.
Signs and Symptoms of Stroke
Signs of a stroke include the sudden occurrence of numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion or trouble speaking and understanding; and trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance and coordination.
Responding to a Stroke
Time is of the essence in responding to a stroke and a quick response can mean the difference between life and death or between full recovery and permanent disability.
Get emergency medical assistance. Document the time when symptoms first appeared. If care is rendered within three hours of experiencing the first signs of a stroke, clot-busting drugs can be administered and can lessen long term disability.
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Gerald L. Hoffmann
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