Preventing
Stroke
sby
Youmasu J. Siewe, PhD, MPH
What
is a stroke? A stoke occurs when blood supply is disturbed or interrupted in
the brain. This can be due to bleeding
from a burst artery called hemorrhage or blockage caused by a blood clot or
other factors. When this occurs,
brain cells are deprived of blood supply and oxygen and begin to die. Stroke is the third leading cause of
death in Oklahoma.
Who is at risk
for a Stroke? Individuals with high blood pressure, high blood
cholesterol, smokers, obese or overweight, sedentary or persons who are not
physically active, alcohol or drug abusers, or those with a family history of
stroke are at risk for a stroke. Advancing age, gender and racial differences,
previous stroke are other risk factors that can not be changed.
Stroke
Prevention Tips:
- Lower your blood pressure: According to the American medical association, the most
common and preventable risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the
risk of stroke an average of 42%. The American Heart Association (AHA)
recommends all adults have their blood pressure checked at least once
every two years. A healthy blood pressure is less than 140/90. People with
other conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure, or kidney failure
should aim for a blood pressure of less than 130/85.
- Lower your blood cholesterol level: Diet, physical activity, or
with medication prescribed by your health care provider may help reduce
the buildup of fatty plaque in arteries that can trigger a stroke. The American
Medical Association reports that people who eat a low fat diet, are
physically active or take a class of cholesterol-lowering medications
called statins reduced their risk of stroke by as much as 25%. The American
Heart Association (AHA) recommends adults to have a fasting cholesterol
check at least every five years. A desirable total cholesterol level is
less than 200.
- Engage in regular physical
activity: Be physically active for 3 or more days a week, in
20-30 minutes per session, or as you can tolerate is important for good
health. Being physically active prevents obesity /overweight, diabetes,
lowers blood pressure and prevents stroke.
- Control Irregular heat beat: Persons who have an irregular
heart rhythm also called atrial fibrillation and take blood thinning
medications may lower their risk for stroke by as much as two thirds.
However, your health care provider should monitor your condition carefully
if you are taking blood thinner medication to watch for possible bleeding.
- Prevent or control diabetes: If you have diabetes, follow the advice of your health
care provider to control your diabetes. This usually involves using a combination of
medications, engaging in physical activity and monitoring your diet. Those
with uncontrolled diabetes have a greater risk of having a stroke.
- Stop smoking: Cigarette smokers have twice
the risk of suffering a stroke as nonsmokers. However, if you stop
smoking, your risk of stroke falls to the same level as someone who never
smoked within about five years.
Talk with your health care provider about attending smoking
cessation programs or using nicotine patches, sprays, gum, or certain
antidepressant drugs.
- Take Aspirin or aspirin products: Talk with your health care
provider about medications that make blood platelets less sticky and
therefore less likely to form clots that can lead to strokes. Some people
who have already suffered a stroke or a warning stroke (called a transient
ischemic attack (TIA) may benefit from taking a combination of aspirin and
other medications.
- Surgery could help: Individuals who have deposits
of fat in their neck arteries, which can lead to stroke, may benefit from
surgical procedures. The
American Medical Association reports that individuals with severe arterial
blockage and a history of previous stroke or warning stroke may reduce
their risk of a second stroke by as much as 44% by this procedure.
- Know racial differences in stroke: Stroke occurrence is 50-61% higher
among African American and American Indians males than White males, and
30-34% higher among African-American and Native American Females than White
females.
Youmasu J. Siewe, Ph.D., MPH, is State Specialist for
Public Health Education, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at OSU in