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What Is A Stroke And Is There Any Known Way That Helps Prevent Them ?
What is a stroke ? And is there any known way that helps prevent them? I was in hospital and met a group of men having had strokes...I am chilled at the thought of ever being in their situation. TRULY TERRORFIED.
Tue, 23 Apr 2013
Hi,
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage.[1] As a result, the affected area of the brain cannot function, which might result in an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech, or an inability to see one side of the visual field.
The following Stroke Prevention Guidelines will help you learn how you may be able to lower your risk for a first stroke.High blood pressure is a major stroke risk factor if left untreated. Have blood pressure checked yearly by a doctor or at health fairs, a local pharmacy or supermarket or with an automatic blood pressure machine.Smoking doubles the risk of stroke. It damages blood vessel walls, speeds up artery clogging, raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder.Alcohol use has been linked to stroke in many studies. Most doctors recommend not drinking or drinking only in moderation - no more than two drinks each day.Cholesterol is a fatty substance in blood that is made by the body. It also comes in food. High cholesterol levels can clog arteries and cause a stroke. See a doctor if your total cholesterol level is more than 200.Excess weight strains the circulatory system. Exercise five times a week. Maintain a diet low in calories, salt, saturated and trans fats and cholesterol. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.All these can prevent stroke Also check your blood sugar once every 6 months
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), is the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia (lack of blood flow) caused by blockage (thrombosis, arterial embolism), or a hemorrhage.[1] As a result, the affected area of the brain cannot function, which might result in an inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech, or an inability to see one side of the visual field.
The following Stroke Prevention Guidelines will help you learn how you may be able to lower your risk for a first stroke.High blood pressure is a major stroke risk factor if left untreated. Have blood pressure checked yearly by a doctor or at health fairs, a local pharmacy or supermarket or with an automatic blood pressure machine.Smoking doubles the risk of stroke. It damages blood vessel walls, speeds up artery clogging, raises blood pressure and makes the heart work harder.Alcohol use has been linked to stroke in many studies. Most doctors recommend not drinking or drinking only in moderation - no more than two drinks each day.Cholesterol is a fatty substance in blood that is made by the body. It also comes in food. High cholesterol levels can clog arteries and cause a stroke. See a doctor if your total cholesterol level is more than 200.Excess weight strains the circulatory system. Exercise five times a week. Maintain a diet low in calories, salt, saturated and trans fats and cholesterol. Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily.All these can prevent stroke Also check your blood sugar once every 6 months
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johan's
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Read what my2cents said. That's terrific advice. You can't allow yourself to live in fear of what might happen in the future when you take the steps necessary to have a healthy lifestyle. As far as baby aspirin are concerned, unless you're in a high risk category for strokes or heart problems, you shouldn't self-medicate. While the aspirin is indeed helpful to people who have a history of problems, or conditions that indicate you should take it, the risks of taking aspirin preventively in this way outweigh the possible benefits. In an otherwise healthy person, studies have shown that the risk of aspirin induced gastrointestinal bleeding outweighs the benefit in reducing possible future CVAs.
A MedSurfer review said:
Aspirin decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease in adults who are at increased risk for heart disease. There is also good evidence that aspirin increases the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding and fair evidence that aspirin increases the incidence of hemorrhagic strokes. There is no evidence of MI prevention with low dose aspirin in general population with no risk factors.
The bottom line is eat healthy, get exercise, keep your salt and cholesterol intake under control, and have regular medical check ups.
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
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