Strokes are one of the leading causes of serious, long-term disability and the fourth leading cause of death in the US.
SIGNS OF A STROKE
Although
signs and symptoms of a stroke may be different with each case and
person, the most common symptoms can be easily remembered as FAST. The
sooner you call 911, the higher chance you or someone else has of
surviving a stroke.
F – Face drooping.
A – Arms weaken.
S – Speech difficulty.
T – Time to act fast and call 911.
HOW TO PREVENT A STROKE
80% of strokes can be prevented. By taking precautions and controlling
the risk factors, you can control your health and lower the risk of
long-term disability caused by a stroke.
1. QUIT SMOKING
Smokers double their chance of having an ischemic stroke, which is an narrowing or blocking of arteries to the brain.
One 2008 study looked at women between the ages of 15-49 and found a
direct relationship to the number of cigarettes smoked in a day and the
risk of having an ischemic stroke. The more a woman smoked, the higher
her risk of stroke became.
It’s hard to quit smoking, but there are professionals to help. Small changes in your dietcan
also help you kick the habit. Just remember that quitting smoking won’t
only lower your chance of having stroke, but also dramatically improve
your overall health and reduce risk of serious disease.
2. LIMIT YOUR DRINKING
Heavy drinking is linked to stroke risk, therefore you should try to
limit the amount of alcohol you consume. A healthy dose of alcohol is
recommended to be about 2 pints of beer a day for men and ½ pint for
women. Replace a pint with a glass of wine, and the doses will be the
same.
3. CONTROL BLOOD PRESSURE
Those with uncontrolled blood pressure are 4 times more likely to suffer
a deadly stroke, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Because high blood pressure is not easy to spot, most people tend to not
treat it. But the American Heart Association says that only 45% of
those with high blood pressure actually have it under control.
See your doctor for regular checkups and prevent high blood pressure naturally by stocking your kitchen with foods and spices known to combat high blood pressure.
4. IMPROVE CHOLESTEROL
Since stroke is caused by blocked blood flow to the brain, it only seems
natural to control your cholesterol and promote healthy blood flow.
High cholesterol increases risk of ischemic stroke, whereas high density
lipoproteins actually protect against heart attacks and stroke.
Eating healthy and regularly exercising can help control your cholesterol.
5. MANAGE YOUR DIABETES
Many studies have proven people with diabetes have a higher risk of
stroke. Due to the high levels of glucose increasing the buildup of
fatty deposits, blood vessels are easier blocked.
Manage your diabetes by eating healthy and regularly exercising. Some foods, such as grapefruit, have been shown to be a great food to fight diabetes.
