Having a stroke is devastating for both the individual concerned and their friends and family. Stroke affects people of all ages not just the elderly. With better treatment many more people survive a stroke but are often left with problems and disabilities, which need months of rehabilitation to improve. A large number never return to their pre stroke condition but manage to have a good quality of life. Prevention is better than cure so here are some tips to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke
1. Reduce your blood pressure.
High blood pressure massively increases your risk of having a stroke. The trouble is you can have dangerously high blood pressure and feel fine. Far too many people only find out they have high blood pressure after a stroke or heart attack. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure or buy a machine yourself and check it. If it's high your doctor will probably start you on prescription medication.
2. Stop smoking
Smoking clogs up your arteries which narrow and eventually a clot forms and you have a stroke. Whether you use pills, patches, hypnosis, acupuncture or will power just do it.
3. Treat heart disease
Angina, irregular heart beats or heart defects can cause a clot to travel to your brain, block an artery and cause a stroke. Your doctor may start you on a daily aspirin, which stops the clots forming.
4. Lose weight
Being overweight causes a host of problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, increased risk of some cancers and depression. Begin eating a bit less and moving more. Walk to the shops, get off the bus or train a stop earlier, park your car a bit further away. You'll be surprised at how quickly you feel the benefits.
5. Control your Diabetes
Poorly controlled diabetes can severely damage blood vessels all over the body including the brain. Damaged vessels are weaker and more prone to colts forming. A high blood sugar at the time of a stroke often causes worse brain damage than expected. Well-controlled diabetes delays the complications, which are associated with a higher risk of stroke.
6. Relax and reduce stress
Too much stress is bad for all of us. Take a few minutes each day to sit still, clear your mind, take slow deep breaths and relax.
7. Change your diet and reduce your salt intake
The modern diet heavy on packets, tins and take aways is not good. Processed foods such as these have very low vitamin & mineral levels and high salt levels. A high salt intake raises blood pressure. Salt is hidden in many processed foods so read all the labels. Better still cut out processed foods altogether.
Vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining good health and a lack of them causes major problems. Start cooking your own food. It's easy and quick to produce a healthy meal. Eat more fruit and veg, brown rice and wholemeal pasta, chicken, fish and lean red meat.
8. Buy a cookbook
There are thousands of cookbooks to help you. Buy one which has quick, easy and healthy recipes. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated.
9. Drink more water and less fizzy drinks.
Aim to drink 8 large glasses of water a day and stop the coke, pepsi and dr. pepper. You'll feel better for it.
10. Do a bit of exercise
Get your body moving. Go for walks, climb your stairs a few times, start dancing. Get more active. It's what we're designed for.
1. Reduce your blood pressure.
High blood pressure massively increases your risk of having a stroke. The trouble is you can have dangerously high blood pressure and feel fine. Far too many people only find out they have high blood pressure after a stroke or heart attack. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure or buy a machine yourself and check it. If it's high your doctor will probably start you on prescription medication.
2. Stop smoking
Smoking clogs up your arteries which narrow and eventually a clot forms and you have a stroke. Whether you use pills, patches, hypnosis, acupuncture or will power just do it.
3. Treat heart disease
Angina, irregular heart beats or heart defects can cause a clot to travel to your brain, block an artery and cause a stroke. Your doctor may start you on a daily aspirin, which stops the clots forming.
4. Lose weight
Being overweight causes a host of problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes, increased risk of some cancers and depression. Begin eating a bit less and moving more. Walk to the shops, get off the bus or train a stop earlier, park your car a bit further away. You'll be surprised at how quickly you feel the benefits.
5. Control your Diabetes
Poorly controlled diabetes can severely damage blood vessels all over the body including the brain. Damaged vessels are weaker and more prone to colts forming. A high blood sugar at the time of a stroke often causes worse brain damage than expected. Well-controlled diabetes delays the complications, which are associated with a higher risk of stroke.
6. Relax and reduce stress
Too much stress is bad for all of us. Take a few minutes each day to sit still, clear your mind, take slow deep breaths and relax.
7. Change your diet and reduce your salt intake
The modern diet heavy on packets, tins and take aways is not good. Processed foods such as these have very low vitamin & mineral levels and high salt levels. A high salt intake raises blood pressure. Salt is hidden in many processed foods so read all the labels. Better still cut out processed foods altogether.
Vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining good health and a lack of them causes major problems. Start cooking your own food. It's easy and quick to produce a healthy meal. Eat more fruit and veg, brown rice and wholemeal pasta, chicken, fish and lean red meat.
8. Buy a cookbook
There are thousands of cookbooks to help you. Buy one which has quick, easy and healthy recipes. Cooking doesn't have to be complicated.
9. Drink more water and less fizzy drinks.
Aim to drink 8 large glasses of water a day and stop the coke, pepsi and dr. pepper. You'll feel better for it.
10. Do a bit of exercise
Get your body moving. Go for walks, climb your stairs a few times, start dancing. Get more active. It's what we're designed for.
Andy Duncan is a doctor and freelance medical writer. For more information on strokes and stroke rehabilitation please visit www.pain-rehab.co.uk,
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