At any given time, about 6 million Americans are living with stroke. Annually, stroke leads to the death of about 135,952 Americans, with hundreds of thousands more disabled. Contrary to the myth held by many people, stroke is not some old people’s problem. True, the risk of stroke increases with age, but stroke affects people of all age brackets 18 years and above. Stroke isn’t inevitable though. According to the National Stroke Association, here are six practices and lifestyle changes that will dramatically cut down your risk of stroke.
1. Get your cholesterol in check
Cholesterol is a fat made by the body, and used by the body to make vitamin D, cell membranes and some hormones. Since Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the body on its own, it is carried from one place to the other by particles in the body called lipoproteins, namely, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL). The low-density lipoproteins cause plaque buildup in the blood vessel over time, and obstruct the flow of blood to the brain, leading to ischemic stroke. This is why LDL is often called ‘bad cholesterol’. Reduce your risk of stroke by reducing your cholesterol level. Get yourself checked for high cholesterol level, especially if you are 45 or above. Avoid diets rich in saturated fats. Exercise often. Get your weight in check.
2. Quit smoking
Smoking may be cool among your circle of influence, but several medical studies have shown that smoking doubles your risk of stroke compared to nonsmokers. Quitting may be challenging, but it can be done. Visit here now for simple tips on how to quit smoking, from the National Stroke Association.
3. Check your blood pressure regularly and get it treated if high
Getting your high blood pressure treated can significantly reduce your risk of stroke. High blood pressure has been shown to be a major contributor to stroke. After all, high blood pressure results from the fact that the heart is pumping harder to get blood across to the whole body. This weakens the blood vessels, and may damage the brain and other important organs. High blood pressure may be controlled through a low-salt, low-fat diet rich in vegetables and fruits, along with exercise and or medication. But whatever you do, get your blood pressure in check, as a high blood pressure is stroke time-bomb, waiting to happen.
4. Watch your alcohol intake
Although data on this is a bit mixed, most medical practitioners agree that consumption of more than two drinks a day will increase your risk of stroke by as much as 50%. It’s true that a few studies on alcohol use point to a possible reduction in stroke risk, due to the fact that, in those studies, alcohol tended to increase the amount of the good cholesterol (HDL) in the blood. Still, knowing that alcohol is a drug which has the possibility of unpredictable interaction with other drugs, medical experts strongly advice reducing your alcohol intake. If you must take more than 1 or 2 drinks a day, talk to your doctor first. This may save you from a stroke.
5. Get your body weight in control
Obesity dramatically increases your risk of stroke. Shed off the excess weight and you would have avoided a huge risk of stroke. Why? Because obesity puts a heavy strain on your whole circulatory system, in addition to increasing your risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetics. Physical activities, healthy diet, lots of fresh water are some of the to-do things that will help get your weight in check. But start today, especially if you are diabetic or have high blood pressure.
6. Watch against diabetics, and manage it well if you are already diabetic
People with diabetics are 4 times more prone to stroke than other people. Diabetics exposes you to other stroke risk factors such as uncontrollable high pressure, high cholesterol etc. Manage your diabetics with the help of your doctor. A healthy lifestyle, weight control and healthy diet have been shown to be helpful in managing diabetics.