10 Health rules to follow to help prevent strokes
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to your brain is cut off. The blood carries oxygen and essential nutrients to your brain and without these, brain cells can be damaged and die. This is called an ischaemic stroke. The effects of this are different in everyone because it depends on where it happens in your brain but a stroke can affect the way you think, feel, move and communicate. A haemorrhagic stoke is less common but the cause of this is bleeding in or around the brain.
As we age, our arteries become narrower and harder and this can lead to a blockage. However, medical factors and lifestyle factors can accelerate this process and increase your chances.
A study from McMaster University has suggested that of the 152,000 strokes in Britain each year, 138,000 could have been avoidable if people looked after their health better. They have outlined 10 rules to help prevent a stroke and these are:
- Lowering blood pressure
- Lowering cholesterol
- Reducing alcohol intake
- Controlling a healthy weight
- Exercising
- Healthy eating
- Stop smoking
- Reducing stress levels
- Preventative medication for any heart arrhythmia
- Preventing diabetes
Of all of these, lowering blood pressure is the most important factor in reducing your chances of a stroke, cutting the chances in half.
Make sure you recognise the symptoms:
FAST
- Facial weakness
- Arm weakness
- Speech problems
- Time to call 999
Other symptoms can also include weakness or loss of feeling in one side of the body, struggle to find words, blurred or lost sight, confusion, sever headache.
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