Know your risk factors for stroke: Many strokes are preventable!
Unfortunately, having a stroke can happen to anyone. There are several types of strokes, but a stroke creates a condition where your brain cells are deprived of a sufficient blood supply, with sometimes devastating results. Knowing the risk factors for strokes can save your life. In the case of strokes, truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Let's take a look:
Some factors are related to lifestyle choices, while others are genetic. There are also medical conditions which may predispose you to suffering a stroke.
Among the lifestyle choices, there are risk factors for stroke that are most preventable. One of the most common is smoking. It's well known that smoking tobacco products contribute to cardiovascular damage. Enough said. Don't smoke. If you do, do your best to quit. Many studies have concluded that excessive use of alcohol and street drugs increase your risk of stroke.
Other lifestyle choices, such as what you eat, may contribute to increased risk factors for strokes. Choosing lean meats, along with plenty of fruits and vegetables, goes a long way to preventing strokes. Regular exercise helps keep your heart and circulation good and healthy.
Your genetics play a role as well. You cannot eliminate this risk factor, but being informed of genetic risk factors for strokes allows you to work with your physician to control conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Certain ethnic groups, as well as a family history, may predispose you to certain conditions which place you at increased risk. Sickle cell anemia is one condition where adequate blood supply is already compromised, so reducing as many of the other risk factors for strokes is essential.
Patients with heart conditions may well be in the best position to reduce their risk for strokes. High blood pressure, controlled with medications, good dietary choices and exercise, can significantly reduce your risk factors for stroke.
Patients with diabetes often have cardiovascular problems, including HBP and high cholesterol. Diabetics can likewise significantly reduce their risk factors by eating healthy, controlling their weight and exercising regularly.
Age and gender also influence your risk of suffering a stroke. Perhaps due to circulatory problems or lack of exercise, studies show that your risk of stroke is doubled every ten years after reaching 55. Some physicians recommend aspirin, as a preventative of stroke. Discuss this with your own physician. As for gender, it's a fact that men suffer more strokes than women, but women more often die of a stroke than men. If you take birth control pills, are pregnant, or smoke, your risk factors for stroke are greatly increased.
If you've previously suffered a stroke, or a heart attack, you're at greatest risk. This means you'll want to address every risk factor aggressively, to minimize your risk.
Take care of your health. Take it seriously and help prevent a stroke.
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