Understanding Strokes And Prevention Tips
A stroke is a cardiovascular event where the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced. If the brain tissue doesn’t get enough oxygen, the brain cells begin to die quickly. Without any medical interventions, strokes may even cause death. However, research shows that fewer Americans are dying from strokes than in previous generations. Still, other cardiovascular events can mimic the symptoms of a stroke. Understanding the different types of strokes, as well as prevention tips, can help people avoid the repercussions.
Stroke or TIA?
One of the most common forms of a stroke is a cerebrovascular accident (CVA). As outlined above, the hallmark of this medical event is a loss of blood to the brain. CVAs are further broken down into ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are caused by blood clots in the brain’s blood vessels, while hemorrhagic strokes are due to broken blood vessels in the brain. By contrast, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is technically not a stroke because the symptoms are usually gone within 24 hours. However, the damage caused by a TIA, or mini-stroke, can still be dangerous.
Stroke and TIA Symptoms
While a stroke and a TIA are technically not the same, many of the symptoms are similar. TIAs are often warning signs that a person is at risk of developing a full stroke. Common symptoms include numbness, muscle weakness that’s often on one side of the body, difficulty with speech, dizziness, a loss of balance, and difficulty seeing or double vision. The above symptoms are nearly identical to strokes, except a severe headache is another feature. Ultimately, prevention is the best way to avoid CVAs and TIAs, and the following tips can help.
Prioritize a healthy diet
Poor diet is directly linked with both cardiac and cardiovascular health. Specifically, prioritizing low-sodium foods that are also low in trans fats, saturated fats, and cholesterol can prevent high cholesterol and lower blood pressure. Additionally, a high-fiber diet can also improve cardiovascular health.
Get and stay active
Getting 2 hours and 30 minutes of activity every week, or 30 minutes for 5 days a week, can yield major benefits for a person’s health. Similarly, maintaining a healthy body weight can also help avoid high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Minimize vices
Along with a healthy diet, experts recommend quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption. Cigarettes can seriously increase the risk of a stroke, while excess alcohol can also raise blood pressure.
Don’t skip doctor’s visits
Finally, people with known cardiovascular or other health conditions should work with a medical professional to get any health issues into a controllable range. Especially for people with heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, prioritizing managing those health concerns will be critical. This includes taking medications as prescribed and getting routine cholesterol or glucose checks.
Strokes are preventable
Strokes can be debilitating, but for many people, the health event is preventable. Taking a proactive approach to overall physical health is one of the most effective strategies. Individuals concerned about stroke risk should speak with a medical professional.
