Controllable Risk Factors For Stroke

Health and Wellness - General Health

By: dptstretch 31-Jul-2012

Introduction:

A stroke is described as a rapid loss of brain function due to a disturbance of the blood flow to the brain. This can either be caused by a blockage of blood flow or a hemorrhage. The damage can temporary, permanent, or can even cause death. For 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists strokes as the fourth most prevalent cause of death (behind heart disease, cancer, and respiratory illnesses).

Prior Stroke

A person cannot change the fact that they have had a stroke, but most second strokes can be prevented especially if the first stroke was a result of blood clots or blocked arteries. Risk can be reduced through lifestyle changes, surgery, or medications-or a combination of one or more.

Diabetes

Persons with diabetes are two to three times more likely to suffer a stroke. This is primarily associated with the increased risk of high blood pressure for diabetics. The added risk for stroke makes it important to make sure your treatment is proper and effective. (see the final comments on the link below for stats on under treatment of diabetes).

High Blood Pressure

This one is the most important and one of the most easily controlled. High Blood Pressure (also know as hypertension) can often be controlled with a low fat, low salt diet; regular exercise; and/or medication. High blood pressure can also lead to heart attack-the number reason people die. The good news is that science has improved the ability to detect high blood pressure in the past few decades-which has helped reduce the number of deaths from stroke and from heart attack.

Cigarette Smoking

Smoking doubles the risk for stroke as it messes with a lot of stuff in our bodies. Nicotine increases blood pressure. Carbon monoxide in smoke reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to the brain. Smoking makes blood more likely to clot. If a person stops smoking, the risk for stroke and other diseases significantly improves over time.

High Cholesterol and Obesity

These are kind of secondary factors for stroke. Oddly enough, one of the biggest risk factors for stroke is susceptibility for heart disease-in other words, if you are at risk for heart disease, you are also at risk for a stroke. If one were to manage cholesterol levels and weight, the risk for both diseases would be reduced.

Final Thoughts

Along with these, use of clotting agents or blood thinners can also be manageable factors that could impact your risk for stroke. There are also factors that are not manageable: age, sex, heredity, and race. As a person gets older, the risk increases. Men are 30% more likely to have a stroke than women. Risk is higher if you have a family history of stroke. African-Americans are three to four times more likely to suffer a stroke than whites.

Supporting Links

Heart Disease Stats for Women

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Comments

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jseven 7/31/2012
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It pays to eat healthy to try and avoid these health tragedy's.
goodselfme 7/31/2012
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The health care professionals keep changing the ranges for normals, but they still agree on these points on your well presented list. I always award you a h5 since your lists are great. Even if I did not agree with the contents (of course I have stated I do here) you still get a h5 for your work.