10 Tips That Can Help You Reduce Risk Of A Stroke



Myocardial infarction is a disease where the heart muscle is affected badly, because of a coronary artery occlusion. A blood clot can clog the artery, causing the heart’s loss of oxygen and general weakness.

Men usually suffer from heart disease more than women. However, more and more women become victims of strokes annually. There are a lot of factors that can lead to a stroke. For example stress or smoking. When a person has a stroke he/she needs to be hospitalized as soon, as possible. Medications are also unavoidable in this case. However, there are some ways that can help you to prevent stroke and keep your heart healthy. To avoid ischemic heart disease, you need not only to limit the consumption of meat products but also of cheese and fatty dairy such as butter and sour cream. Even a slight change in your menu will reduce the cholesterol in your blood in a few weeks.



1. Drink — in moderation

What you've heard is true. Drinking can make you less likely to have a stroke — up to a point. "Studies show that if you have about one drink per day, your risk may be lower," says to Dr. Rost. "Once you start drinking more than two drinks per day, your risk goes up very sharply."

2. Quit smoking

Smoking accelerates clot formation in a couple of different ways. It thickens your blood, and it increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. "Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, smoking cessation is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your stroke risk significantly," Dr. Rost says.




3.Consume less meat

If you can’t live without meat, try to switch to poultry, or so-called white meat. It is less fatty and easier to digest. This eating habit can save you from stroke in the future.

4. Lose weight

Obesity, as well as the complications linked to it (including high blood pressure and diabetes), raises your odds of having a stroke. If you're overweight, losing as little as 10 pounds can have a real impact on your stroke risk.



5. Reduce stress

Stress contributes to cardiovascular disease and, if severe, can cause a heart attack or sudden death. There are plenty of options that help reduce stress, such as regular exercise, adequate sleep, striving for a good marriage, laughing, volunteering or attending religious services. Watching TV generally does not relieve, but can aggravate stress. Also, try to avoid situations and people who make you anxious or angry.

6.  Maintain a healthy blood pressure

High blood pressure, called hypertension, is known as “the silent killer” as it goes without symptoms in most individuals. High blood pressure causes wear and tear of the delicate inner lining of your blood vessels. The higher your blood pressure (BP) the greater your risk. The risk begins to increase from a pressure of 115/70 mmHg and doubles for each 10 mmHg increase in systolic (the larger number) and 5 mmHg increase in the diastolic (the smaller number). Heredity and increasing age raise the risks. Measuring blood pressures at home reflects more accurately your risk than having the blood pressure taken at a physician’s office. It is worth the investment to get a cuffmeter.

It is best not to rely only on the readings at your doctor’s office as some individuals suffer from “white coat” hypertension – their BP is up only when they are at the doctor’s office. Others have “masked” hypertension – higher when not in the doctor’s office. Prognosis is best related to home BP. But for home blood pressure readings, you should not use finger or wrist units – only regular upper arm units.



7. There should be more fish in your daily meals

 Make sure to eat oily sea fish at least twice a week. It contains omega 3, which makes your blood vessels stronger. Consuming fish can reduce the risk of stroke.

8. Pick your pills wisely


There is a great interest in alternative medicine and understandably so, because patients want to be empowered to take responsibility for their own health. However, many take alternative medicines because of the way they are marketed. The mere fact that a substance is “natural” does not prove its health benefit. After all, nobody in their right mind would take arsenic simply because it is “natural.” It is important to know that research data are often lacking for alternative medications, supplements and vitamins, none of which are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Do we ever prescribe alternative medicines? On occasion we do! The major risk with many alternative medications is that the patient thinks they are doing something to improve health, when in fact they are not. Although some vitamins have been shown to possibly help some conditions, to date none have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. There are some rare exceptions, such as fish oils and niacin (vitamin B). It is also important to note that high doses of some vitamins may interfere or counteract the beneficial effects of some prescription drugs.



9. Know your risks
The most influential risk factor for cardiovascular disease is age – the older you are, the greater your risk. The second is your genetic make-up. Although everyone is excited by the scientific progress in genomics research, conclusive gene tests are still in their infancy. But, as I tell our medical students, “A good family history is a poor man’s gene test.” We have long known that if your parents, grandparents, or other relatives were afflicted with or died of heart disease, diabetes or stroke, your risk is much greater.

10. Control cholesterol levels


High cholesterol can cause the narrowing of blood vessels in your body. This can lead to blockage of the blood flow to your vital organs including the brain, increasing the risk of stroke. Diet control including reducing intake of foods high in cholesterol and saturated fats, such as coconut milk, deep fried foods and seafood, as well as medication can control cholesterol levels.

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Source:betterme

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