Do you want to cut the odds of a stroke?

You are probably familiar with the severity and the dangers that stroke presents to your health like the
high risk of death if suffering from one. It is sad that although we all are well aware of the dangers of
strokes, yet, we fail to take action and ignore them. Your health is to be valued, not just for yourself but
more so for your family, so understand the risk factors and get to know the treatment options available to
you in case of stroke.

Let us start with the basics

Overview of stroke:
Disruption or blockage or interruption of the blood supply to the brain results in a disorder called stroke.
This may lead to loss of control over movement, perception, speech or bodily functions.
Stroke Types:
1. Clots

near

the

brain

(Ischemic

stroke) Accounting for almost 87% of

all stroke cases, this type occurs due to
an obstruction within a blood vessel,
supplying blood to the brain.
2. Bleeding in the brain (Hemorrhagic
stroke) Second basic type occurs
when a weakened or inflamed blood
vessel

ruptures

or

starts

to

leak.

Uncontrolled hypertension or high blood

pressure is the most common cause of
hemorrhagic stroke. Also, major bleeding

strokes are fatal about 40% of the time within the first month.
3. TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) It is episodes of inadequate blood flow which usually lasts 15
minutes or lower, caused by a temporary clot. These are often called a mini stroke as they may
be a sign of an impending stroke, so take them seriously and see your doctor immediately.

Recognizing stroke:
One of the easy way to remember the signs and
symptoms of stroke is F.A.S.T. which is
F (Face Drooping)
A (Arm Weakness)
S (Speech Difficulty)
T (Time to call doctor)

Apart from the above, other symptoms are:

Unexplained dizziness, loss of balance or

trouble walking

Severe headache without any cause

Blurred vision or trouble seeing with one or

both eyes

Stroke risk factors:

The surprising part is to see fatal stroke taking a backseat in everyones
minds when the risk factors are so common. The risk factors of stroke
generally include:

High Blood pressure It is the No. 1 cause of stoke and hence

the most important risk factor. Know your blood pressure and
get it checked at least once every two years.

Smoking Tobacco damages the blood vessels thereby leading

to blockages, causing a stroke.

High cholesterol High cholesterol can cause blocked arteries

which, in turn, increases the risk of stroke.

Understanding
your risk factors for
stroke, is the
foremost step
in stroke
prevention

Diabetes Having diabetes increases your risk of stroke as it

can cause disease of blood vessels in the brain.

Physical inactivity and obesity You increase your risk of cardiovascular disease by being
inactive or obese.

Lifestyle changes for prevention of stroke:

Eliminate lifestyle stroke risks for healthy you. Some important ways to lower your odds are:

Say no to tobacco: Quit smoking as

it makes just about all your other
stroke risks worse.

Lose weight: Reach and maintain

what your doctor considers a healthy
weight for you.

Consume less salt: Limit sodium to

no more than 2,300 mg per day.

Eat Healthy: Improve your eating

habits. Eat foods low in saturated
fat, trans fat, sodium and added
sugars.

Exercise: Get up and moving! Your

couch may be one of your biggest
stroke

risks.

Find

suitable

exercise and get going.

Medical Health checkup Are you at risk for stroke?
Stroke screening should be done annually once you cross age 40. Preventive screening is done to help you
understand your risk of stroke, these include:

Carotid Artery Disease Screening - Screening which creates images of carotid arteries and also
measures the blood flow through them.

Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) Screening - A non-invasive procedure used to detect

irregular heartbeat (a major risk factor for stroke).

Complete Lipid Panel Screening - A simple finger-stick screening which measures the three
different kinds of lipids in your blood (HDL, LDL and triglycerides) as well as total cholesterol. Lipid
level screening is important in determining your heart health and stroke risk.

Glucose Screening - A quick and easy finger-stick screening which helps identify diabetes a
major risk factor for stroke.

C-reactive Protein Screening - A simple finger-stick screening which measures C-reactive

protein (CRP) levels in the blood, which in turn helps to determine heart disease and stroke risk
levels.

In a nutshell, stroke isnt inevitable. Once you have identified personal risk factors with regular
health checkup, you can work with your healthcare provider and reduce your personal risk.