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Stroke Prevention – Learn Why 80% Of Strokes Are Preventable!

Very little attention is given to stroke prevention. That is very unfortunate because stroke is the number one cause of adult disability. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

It is estimated that 750,000 Americans will experience a stroke this year. Of this number, 160,000 will die. The rest will forever have their lives changed in significant and profound ways.

Unfortunately for African American, they are twice as likely to die from a stroke as Caucasians. The rate of having their first stroke is almost doubled that of Caucasians. One half of all African American women will die from either a stroke or heart disease. For those with sickle cell anemia, 11% will have experienced a stroke by the age of 20. (Note: Please read “African American Health – Stroke!” for a specially prepared article just for African Americans.)

Pretty depressing until you read the next line:

That’s not me saying this but the National Stroke Association. This statement means that 600,000 Americans could prevent their strokes from occurring. You have the power to make a significant difference in how strokes are going to affect our community. You can both prevent a stroke and lessen the damage from a stroke if you know what to do.

What is a Stroke?
Before we talk specifically about stroke prevention let’s make sure we understand what a stroke is. A stroke is really a “brain attack!” Just like a heart attack affects the heart, a stroke or “brain attack” affects the brain. Vital blood and oxygen to the brain cells are cut off resulting in some level of damage to the effected brain tissue.

Most strokes happen when the artery or blood vessel is blocked by a blood clot or by the gradual build-up of plaque and other fatty deposits or by sickle cells which tend to sick together once they have changed into their sickle shape. In some cases, a stroke can occur when an artery or blood vessel ruptures at a weak spot.

Every stroke is different since it depends upon the area of the brain that has been affected and the amount of time that area has been without oxygen. Strokes are also classified according to their severity. A mini-stroke or TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) is a brief episode of stroke-like symptoms that can last from a few minutes to 24 hours. TIAs usually cause no permanent damage or disability but are serious warning signs of an impending stroke. It is estimated that 35% of people who experience a TIA will have another stroke. Statistically it breaks down this way:

• 5 to 14% will have an additional stroke within one year
• Within the next five years, 24% of women and 42% of men will have an additional stroke

Again, this can seem overwhelming and depressing until you remember that:

This means you can take steps on the front end to assist in stroke prevention. You can also take steps after you have had a stroke to prevent an additional one.

Risk Factors: Uncontrollable vs. Controllable!
Everyone has some level of risk for having a stroke. Some of the risk factors are controllable. Some of the risk factors are not. Let’s first look at the uncontrollable risk factors for stroke:

• Age – Although a stroke can happen at any age, your risk increases with age. After age 55, the risk for a stroke doubles for every decade. (Note: Although you have no control over your chronological age, you do have the ability to reduce your biological age. This is what the www.Aging-No-More.com website is all about.)
• Gender – A stroke is more common in men but more lethal in women.
• Race – For African Americans, the risk for a stroke is twice the rate of Caucasians. Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders are also at a higher risk than Caucasians.
• Family History – If someone in your family has had a stroke, then you’re at a higher risk. Part of this could be genetics. Part could be lifestyle. You have no control over the genetics but you certainly have control over your lifestyle.
• Previous Stroke or TIA – If you have had a stroke or TIA then you chance of having another stroke in the next 5 years is 25 to 40% depending upon your gender.

As you can see from the above list, there are certain factors that you have no control over. The good news is that you have multiple ways to offset the above uncontrollable risk factors. This can lead to stroke prevention.

For this article we are only going to list the factors that you can control to improve your chances for stroke prevention. The article, “11 Action Steps on How to Prevent a Stroke!” will go into greater depth. For now, here are the controllable risk factors:

• Control High Blood Pressure - High blood pressure increases stroke risk 4-6 times. It is the #1 risk factor for a stroke. You have the power to positively impact this area which greatly increases your stroke protection.
• Control Heart Disease especially Atrial Fibrillation (AF) - Atrial fibrillation can cause blood to collect in the upper chambers of your heart increasing the opportunity for blood to form clots to causes a stroke.
• Stop Smoking - Smoking doubles the risk for stroke.
• Control Alcohol Consumption - Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as one glass of wine or beer or one drink each day. There is some research to suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may provide some stroke prevention as long as there are no other medical reasons for avoiding alcohol. But, once you increase to heavy alcohol consumption, everything changes and your risk increases substantially.
• Control Your Cholesterol - Lowering your cholesterol may have a positive effect on reducing your risk for stroke. It will certainly reduce your risk for heart disease which is a major risk factor for stroke.
• Control Diabetes - Having diabetes increases your risk for stroke. There is a lot you can do to control your blood sugar to reduce this risk while improve your overall health and wellness.
• Control Your Weight Through Diet, Exercise and Nutrition - The “Super Size Me” fast food lifestyle has created a “Super Sized” population of overweight and obese people. This additional weight increases your risk for a stroke, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer and other health issues.
• Check for Other Circulatory Problems - In addition to sickle cell disease, it is important to have your carotid arteries checked by a qualified physician on a regular basis.
• The carotid arteries carry blood from the heart to the brain and can narrow from the build up of cholesterol and other plaque forming substances. This leads to reduced blood flow and increases the risk for blood clots and blockages.

Again, the website article, “11 Action Steps on How to Prevent a Stroke!” will discuss each one of these controllable risk factors. This article will give you a comprehensive plan of action for stroke prevention. Not only will it help you lower your risk but it will also help improve your health and overall wellness.

Common Stroke Symptoms!
Another element of stroke prevention is learning these symptoms. Knowing what to do when they occur could save your life or the life of someone else. (Note: The article, “Replace Your ABCs With STR And It Could Save Your Life When the Signs of a Stroke Occur!” is a must read.) These are the most common stroke symptoms:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg especially if it occurs on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you have or see anyone who has these symptoms, then call 911 immediately. Time is critical in decreasing the effects of a stroke. Currently, there is a clot busting drug that can diminish the effects of a stroke. However, this drug only has a three-hour window to be effective. Once the stroke symptoms occur the clock starts ticking. Your quick response could be the difference between life or death, permanent disability or significant recovery.

Summary!
Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. For the African American health community, the effects of a stroke are significantly greater. However, stroke prevention is within your grasp. It’s important to remember what the National Stroke Association says,

Please join me in taking a proactive step towards stroke prevention. Please email this article to a friend. In fact, make it your goal to share this with at least 5 others.

I would also invite you to click on “Stroke Warning Sign – The STR Poster!” Print this poster and post it wherever people gather. You could save a life because you took a positive step in stroke prevention.

Until next time, may we both age youthfully!

Synergistically yours,

P.S.  To help you implement this information about stroke prevention I would recommend the following articles:

“African American Health - Stroke!”

“11 Action Steps on How to Prevent a Stroke!”

“Replace Your ABCs with STR and It Could Save Your Life When the Signs of a Stroke Occur!”

“How Fiber Can Reduce 3 of the Risk Factors for Stroke!”

“The Stroke Risk Assessment Tool!”

“Stroke Warning Sign – The STR Poster!”

“Fiber Foods Grouped by Fiber Content per Serving”

 

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