8 Things To Prevent A Stroke
A stroke is potentially one of the most devasting and disabling conditions a patient can have. Surviving a stroke is a life-changing event, recovery takes months and it’s important to know how the healing process works and how to prevent it from happening. After a stroke, the first three months are very important because you are going to see your greatest recovery in these three months but at the same time that is also when you are at a greater risk of having another stroke.
Around 5 million people suffer from stroke every year. There are some elements that no one can control about strokes such as a medical history of the family and age. But there are some other factors that can help you to reduce the risk of stroke such as regular physical activity, keeping an eye on your blood pressure and cholesterol, eating healthy, stress management, and getting enough sleep.
What is a Stroke?
Generally, blood vessels called arteries carry blood to the brain, the brain needs a constant flow of blood to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to work properly. During a stroke also known as a brain attack, blood flow to part of the brain has stopped, the most common type of stroke is called Ischemic stroke. It can happen in an artery where a fatty substance called black has made the artery narrow, in one type of Ischemic stroke called a thrombotic stroke the plaque can break apart and form a blood clot, that blocks the flow of blood to the brain.
Another type of Ischemic stroke is called an embolic stroke, A blood clot forms in another area of the body and travels through the bloodstream if it reaches an artery near the brain and can block the blood flow. When an artery to part of the brain is blocked during a stroke, oxygen and nutrients in the blood can’t get to those brain cells, and the cells start to die within minutes. A less common type of stroke is called a hemorrhagic stroke, it occurs when a weak blood vessel breaks open and leaks blood into the brain, this blocks blood flow that connects to the brain. And the leaking of blood promotes pressure to the brain issue issue issue which damages it.
In a transient ischemic attack or TIAA, a clot blocks the flow of blood to the brain but it is different from the other types of stroke because the clot breaks up after a short time, transient ischemic attacks usually don’t cause any permanent damage.
Also Read: What Happens When You Have a Stroke?
What are the Different Types of Strokes and what happens in each of them?
Physicians classified the stroke into two parts: Ischemic stroke and Haemorrhagic stroke
Ischemic stroke is one, where one of the blood vessels supplying the brain is blocked, so whatever area of the brain supplied by the blood vessel does not get the blood supply, so the part of the brain gets damaged and that produces a stroke.
Hemorrhagic stroke is where one of the blood vessels bursts inside the brain, leading to bleeding inside the brain, so roughly we can say that around 80 to 85% of strokes are Ischemic strokes and around 15% are hemorrhagic strokes.
What are the Risk Factors for Stroke?
Every 40 seconds someone in the US has a stroke, and every four minutes someone dies. How can you lower your chances of being one of them is first finding out the risk factors of it.
- High blood pressure ( The main risk factor of any stroke )
- Diabetes
- Certain types of heart diseases
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
- Having previous transient Ischemic attacks
- Sudden numbness or weakness
- Sudden numbness in your legs, face, or arms
- Sudden confusion, trouble in speaking, or trouble in understanding speech.
- Sudden trouble in eyesight or seeing
- Sudden balance loss, dizziness, or unable to walk
- Sudden severe headache.
What are the Tips to Prevent Stroke?
Every day our doctors perform life-saving procedures to reverse stroke, but the best way to treat a stroke is to prevent it. By following these steps you can reduce your risk of a stroke.
Know your Blood Pressure — An ideal BP for stroke prevention is less than 120/80, you should check it periodically to know what your numbers are running.
Pay attention to heart rhythm — It’s an important risk factor for stroke and your regular heart rhythm is called atrial fibrillation, which can dramatically increase your risk for stroke.
Quit smoking — It’s a very important factor that you can take control over. Smoking more than quadruple increases your risk for stroke.
Drink alcohol in moderation — Heavy drinking can increase your risk for strokes and also leads to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so it’s important to drink in moderation, an ideal goal would be no more than two drinks a day for a man and one drink for a woman.
Control your blood sugar — People who have high blood sugar and diabetes have more than double the risks for stroke and heart disease.
Have your cholesterol tested — Clogged arteries from high cholesterol can lead to stroke and heart disease, and the total goal of cholesterol is less than 200.
Cut salt and fat from your diet — It is important to cut salt and fat from your diet, this can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol, so lowering this, will help to lower your risk factor for stroke.
Exercise — Regular exercise can go a long way to reducing the risk factors for stroke and heart disease, this helps lower your blood pressure as well as your cholesterol, something as simple as walking 20 to 30 minutes, 3 to 4 times a week and really lower your risk factors.
Consider these eight steps to cut your stroke risk, because the best way to treat a stroke is to prevent it.
If you are feeling any of these symptoms please visit a doctor immediately, or visit https://americanveinclinics.com/ or call 469–808–0000 to book an appointment.
