Anyone – including children – can have a stroke. And while it’s true that certain factors like age, sex, race and family history are beyond our control, there are a number of lifestyle choices suggested to vastly reduce the number of tragic stroke-related fatalities.
Every year in the United States, more than 600,000 people have a new stroke, and 130,000 of those strokes are fatal. Arkansas is ranked third in the nation in stroke-related deaths. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 80% of strokes could be prevented through controlling the health conditions that raise your risk for stroke.
The good news is most of the health and lifestyle choices needed to reduce your risk of stroke, will also significantly reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, while enhancing your overall health and quality of life. So why wait to get started? Here is your priority checklist:
Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke, and its most controllable risk factor.
Stop smoking. Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system and pave the way for a stroke to occur. Use of birth control pills combined with cigarette smoking can increase the risk of stroke even further.
Prevent or control diabetes. Diabetes (both I and II) is an independent risk factor for stroke. If you are diabetic, have your blood sugar and A1C levels checked regularly.
Use food as preventive medicine. Your diet can make or break your risk of a stroke over time. Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day can actually reduce the risk of stroke. Minimize sodium, saturated fat and trans fat and keep calories in a healthy range.
Manage cholesterol levels. Large amounts of cholesterol in the blood can build up and cause blood clots, leading to a stroke. Talk with your doctor about whether medication is the right choice.
Atrial Fibrillation. AFib increases stroke risks fivefold because it causes the heart's upper chambers to beat incorrectly, which can allow the blood to pool and clot, then travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
Physical inactivity and weight control. Both physical inactivity and excess body weight can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If your BMI is over 25, make losing at least 5-10 pounds a priority this year.
Other medical conditions. If you have sleep apnea, sickle cell disease, alcohol or drug abuse, peripheral or carotid artery disease, or any other disease of the heart or blood vessels, talk with your physician regularly about your risk of stroke.
Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are also strong predictors of stroke. TIAs are smaller, temporary blockages in the brain that can produce milder stroke-like symptoms but may not leave lasting damage.
Someone who has had one or more TIAs is almost TEN TIMES more likely to have a stroke than someone of similar age who hasn’t, according to the National Stroke Association. Recognizing and treating TIAs is critical to avoiding a major stroke. TIAs should be considered a medical emergency, and the patient should follow up immediately with a neurologist.
A key to avoiding stroke-related death is to get treatment F.A.S.T. The FAST acronym is a helpful reminder to looking for Face drooping, Arm weakness, Slurred speech – Time to call 9-1-1. Treatment must be administered quickly to avoid irreversible damage, so don’t hesitate to make the call.
What to do if you think you are having a stroke
If you are having signs of a stroke, you can be seen by a specialist in minutes through the AR SAVES stroke telemedicine program in partnership with University of Arkansas for Medical Science and the Medical Center of South Arkansas emergency room stroke team. At the ER, the team will take a scan of the brain and continue immediate evaluation with a neurologist.
AR SAVES is a telemedicine system allowing a UAMS neurologist to examine a patient as though he or she were sitting at the bedside. They can zoom in so close that the patient’s pupils and other vital signs can be assessed, download and review the brain scan image and discuss the findings with the patient and the specially trained MCSA emergency room staff.
If given within three hours of the first symptom, an FDA-approved clot-dissolving medication may reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke. There are also two other types of stroke treatment available that may help reduce the long-term effects of stroke. Many people will miss this important brain-saving treatment because they wait and do not get to a hospital quickly. We encourage you to learn the symptoms to identify a stroke and get treatment…immediately.
It is estimated that two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke, increasing risk of permanent brain damage, disability or death. Every minute matters. Recognizing symptoms and acting fast to get medical treatment can save a life and limit disabilities.Reduce your risk of stroke: priority checklist
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