Stroke Risk Factors & Preventions

A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack."

Although few people realize it, everyone is at some risk for stroke. Stroke remains the 6th leading cause of death, and the leading cause of long term disability. The good news is that many strokes can be prevented when people learn about risk factors and take steps to reduce or eliminate them.

If a stroke does occur, recognizing the warning signs and seeking medical help immediately greatly improve the chances of surviving with minimal impairment.

If you or someone you know may be having a stroke, call 911, immediately.

With advances in care, many stroke victims are able to resume some or all of their activities much earlier than in the past and reduce their risk of further attacks.

A risk factor is something about you that increases your chance of getting a disease or having a certain health condition. Some risk factors for stroke you cannot change, but some you can. Changing risk factors that you do control will help you live a longer, healthier life.

Risk Factors You Cannot Change

• Your age. Risk of stroke increases with age.
• Your gender. Men have a higher risk of getting heart disease than women except in older adults.
• Your genes or race. If your parents had a stroke, you are at higher risk. African-Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk for heart problems.
• Diseases such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and some types of arthritis
• Weak areas in an artery wall or abnormal arteries and veins
• Pregnancy– both during and in the weeks right after the pregnancy

Blood clots from the heart may travel to the brain and cause a stroke. This may happen in people with man-made or infected heart valves or in certain heart defects you were born with. Other causes of blood clots are a very weak heart and some abnormal heartbeats,

Risk Factors You Can Change

You can change some risk factors for stroke, by taking the following steps:

• Do not smoke. If you do smoke, quit. Click here to learn more.
• Control your cholesterol through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed. Click here to learn more.
• Control high blood pressure through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed. Click here to learn more.
• Control diabetes through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed.
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Click here to learn more.
• Maintain a healthy weight by eating healthy foods, eating less, and joining a weight loss program, if needed.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink. This means 1 drink a day for women and 2 a day for men.
• Avoid cocaine and other illegal drugs.
• Talk to your doctor about the risk of birth control pills. Birth control pills can increase the chance of blood clots, which can lead to stroke. Clots are more likely in women who also smoke and who are older than 35.

Good nutrition is important to your heart health and will help control some of your stroke risk factors:

• Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Choose lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, beans and legumes.
• Choose low-fat dairy products, such as 1% milk and other low-fat items.
• Avoid sodium (salt) and fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.
• Eat fewer animal products and foods that contain cheese, cream, or eggs.

Read labels, and stay away from “saturated fat” and anything that contains “partially-hydrogenated” or “hydrogenated” fats. These products DASH Diet. are usually loaded with unhealthy fats.

Confluence Health recommends the Mediterranean Diet.

Your doctor may suggest taking aspirin or another drug called clopidogrel (Plavix) to help prevent blood clots from forming. DO NOT take aspirin without talking to your doctor first.

If you are taking these drugs or other blood thinners, you should take steps to prevent yourself from falling or tripping.

Follow these guidelines and the advice of your doctor to lower your stroke risk.