2023-11-01 14:18:15
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain stops or decreases significantly, cutting off its supply of oxygen and nutrients, and within minutes brain cells begin to die. Because brain cells do not regenerate, this may lead to permanent brain damage.
There are tips that help reduce the risk of stroke, as lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of stroke.
The World Stroke Organization says that strokes are the leading cause of disabilities around the world, noting that more than 12 million people annually around the world suffer from a stroke.
The organization confirms that regarding 90% of strokes can be prevented by treating a small number of risk factors responsible for most cases.
In this report, Dr. Andrew Rossman, medical director of the Cleveland Clinic Comprehensive Stroke Center in the United States, provides a number of tips on how to reduce the risk of stroke through good management of health conditions that individuals suffer from – such as diabetes – and making changes in the way people suffer from stroke. life.
“All of these tips are interconnected,” Rossman said, “as most of the lifestyle changes mentioned play a significant role in improving the management of other medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which all contribute to an increased risk of stroke.” “Cerebral.”
1- Reducing blood pressure
We start with blood pressure, as Dr. Rossman noted that untreated hypertension, defined as blood pressure that is always higher than 80/130, is the most important treatable risk factor around the world when it comes to strokes.
Dr. Rossman explained that in addition to taking appropriate medications, there are a number of steps that can be taken to lower blood pressure, such as reducing salt intake, which Dr. Rossman considers good even for people who do not suffer from high blood pressure.
Rossman added: “We recommend consuming less than two grams of salt per day, and I always advise my patients to read the nutritional facts label and browse reliable websites related to food, in order to know the amount of sodium they are consuming, which is usually much higher than they think.”
2- Be careful of diabetes
Dr. Rossman stressed the importance of conducting diabetes tests, and if diagnosed with it, the disease must be managed well, noting that diabetes causes narrowing of small, medium, and large blood vessels in the body, including blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, heart, and brain.
As a result, diabetes can cause a number of heart problems and strokes.
In addition, for patients who have survived a stroke, the risk of having a second stroke is 3 times greater in people with untreated diabetes.
Dr. Rossman pointed out that the treatment plan for individuals with diabetes includes conducting tests for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) – cumulative sugar – which provides an overview of blood sugar levels during the three months preceding the analysis.
He continued: “We advise these patients to ensure that their HbA1c levels remain at a threshold of 7.0 or less. Taking medications, monitoring diet, exercising regularly, and following the advice of their health care provider help achieve this goal.”
3- Treating atrial fibrillation
The World Stroke Organization indicates that atrial fibrillation is associated with 1 in 4 stroke cases. For his part, Dr. Rossman explained that these strokes tend to be more serious and cause disability compared to strokes associated with other risk factors.
He said: “Atrial fibrillation is a condition associated with the heart rhythm that experiences very rapid beats that do not allow the upper left chamber of the heart – the left atrium – to contract properly. Instead, the left atrium begins to fibrillate and flutter, which leads to the blood not being emptied from it properly.” Normal blood stasis for a long time may lead to the formation of clots that can travel throughout the body and block a blood vessel in the brain, depriving it of the oxygen and essential nutrients it needs.
Dr. Rossman said that atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders in older people, and that the risk factor associated with it is closely related to age.
He continued: “As a person gets older, the risk of atrial fibrillation increases, which also increases the risk factors associated with a stroke. More than half of people with heart rhythm disorders do not know that they have it, but atrial fibrillation can be treated when It is diagnosed by using blood thinners, which despite some risks associated with them, the benefits far outweigh those risks in most patients.
In addition to lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol as it is known, through a good diet that does not include saturated fats, for example, doctors may prescribe statin medications, which reduce the future risk of heart attacks. And strokes.
Dr. Rossman said that this type of medication, especially rosuvastatin and atorvastatin, may provide benefits to patients beyond simply lowering cholesterol levels, as they contribute to reducing congestion and stabilizing the accumulation of fatty deposits (plaque) on the walls of blood vessels.
5- Quit smoking
Dr. Rossman stressed the importance of quitting smoking by saying: “All types of smoking are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes, and are also highly associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, heart, and the rest of the body. We strongly advise everyone to “By completely quitting all types of nicotine consumption, in order to reduce the long-term risk of contracting multiple diseases.”
6- Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Dr. Rossman advises following a healthy diet program characterized by low saturated fats and sodium, and avoiding alcohol and consuming large amounts of caffeine. He also stresses the importance of regular physical activity because of its ability to reduce stroke risk factors directly, and its contribution indirectly. In lowering blood pressure and sugar.
Exercise can also reduce stress and psychological pressure, just as is the case with meditation and deep breathing exercises, which is of great importance, as tension and psychological pressure cause the body to secrete chemicals that increase blood pressure and affect the blood pressure. Hormones and increases blood sugar levels.
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