A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that supplies the brain with blood and oxygen becomes clogged or disrupted. Brain cells start to deteriorate if they don’t receive enough blood and oxygen.
Your age and your family’s history are two risk factors for stroke that you cannot control. However, you can do many things to lower your risk of stroke, such as getting adequate exercise, consuming a nutritious diet, and managing other health risks.
1. Select Wholesome Foods and Beverages.
You can minimize or control your risk of experiencing a stroke by consuming nutritious meals and snacks. Eating meals high in fiber and low in cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fats can help avoid high cholesterol levels.
Reduced salt intake can help lower blood pressure. Your likelihood of experiencing a stroke increases with high cholesterol and blood pressure.
2. Maintain Optimal Blood Pressure Level
If high blood pressure is uncontrolled, it can multiply your risk of a stroke. A blood pressure target below 120/80 is optimal. However, a not-so-aggressive objective/goal/target (such as no greater than 140/90) can be more suitable for some people. The suggested steps are:
- Reduce your consumption of salt (about half a teaspoon).
- Avoid foods high in cholesterol, like cheese and hamburgers.
- Increase your daily exercise to at least 30 minutes.
- Quit smoking.
3. Refrain from Smoking
If you smoke, your risk of having a stroke is twofold. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which reduces your blood’s ability to carry oxygen, and nicotine, which elevates blood pressure.
Your risk of having a stroke increases even by inhaling passive smoking. Consult your physician for advice on quitting smoking. Counseling and nicotine patches can be beneficial.
4. Consider Your Drinking Habits
Moderate alcohol consumption has benefits. However, abusing alcohol severely can dramatically raise your risk of stroke. That’s partly because excessive alcohol use can raise blood pressure.
There are methods to obtain assistance if you have trouble quitting drinking. The best place to start is with behavioral treatment.
5. Regular Workout
Numerous health issues, including stroke, are linked to insufficient exercise. By lowering additional risk factors like obesity and high blood pressure, exercise may help avoid stroke.
6. Managing Diabetes
Your physician will advise you to get tested if you show diabetes symptoms. Ensure constant blood sugar checks if you’re suffering from diabetes. Consult your doctor about your treatment choices.
Your doctor could advise making specific lifestyle adjustments, such as increasing your physical activity or eating healthy. By doing these, you can minimize your risk of stroke and maintain appropriate blood sugar management.
7. Take Care of Atrial Fibrillation
Heart clots can occur due to the irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. When those clots reach the brain, a stroke may result. Stroke risk increases roughly fivefold with atrial fibrillation; thus, it must be addressed carefully.
Visit your physician for a checkup if you experience symptoms like chest pain or difficulty breathing. To lower your stroke risk from atrial fibrillation, you may be required to have a blood thinner, including direct-acting anticoagulants.
Your doctor can assist you with this procedure.
8. Monitor Your Cholesterol
Excessive cholesterol can block your arteries, which can cause a heart attack or stroke. Keep your levels within the normal range. Your doctor might suggest medication if diet and exercise aren’t adequate to control your cholesterol.
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9. Adequate Sleep
Poor sleep is linked to a higher risk of stroke, according to a growing body of research. Sleep apnea, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, and other sleep disorders have all been associated with stroke.
Also, having a stroke might worsen sleep problems, raising your risk of another stroke.
Thus, getting between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night is crucial for maintaining health. If you cannot do it independently, speak to your doctor about possible treatments, strategies, and sleep aids.
10. Other Medications
Individuals at a high stroke risk may also have to take anticoagulant medications like warfarin (Coumadin) or an antiplatelet drug like aspirin to stop the blood clot formation that can cause strokes.
These medications can be used in conjunction with those that lower blood pressure and manage cholesterol levels. Consult your physician about using medications that could prevent a stroke.
Final Words
With your doctor’s help, you should learn ways to prevent having brain stroke symptoms.
Luckily, many stroke-preventative measures can also improve other aspects of your health and may even lower your risk of developing certain illnesses. If you feel you are having a brain stroke or notice someone experiencing it, contact the experts at a reputed hospital immediately.
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Stroke – Know the risk factors and warning signs