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KNOW THE STROKE RISK FACTORS
Many strokes are preventable. Knowing these risk factors and controlling
the ones you can, can reduce your risk of stroke
Family History - If one of your parents or a brother
or sister has had a stroke or TIA, your risk of stroke is slightly
greater
Age - Your risk of stroke increases as you get older
Sex - Although stroke generally affects men and women
equally, women are more likely to die of stroke than are men.
Race - African Americans are at a greater risk of stroke
than people of other races. This is partially due to a higher
prevelance of high blood pressure and diabetes
High Blood Pressure (or hypertension) is the greatest
risk for stroke. Hypertension may contribute to as many as 90%
of all strokes. High blood pressure places additional stress on
artery walls and can even damage the lining of these walls, causing
them to plug from blood clots or to rupture. For an adult, normal
blood pressure is less than 140/90. If you don’t know your
blood pressure, schedule an appointment with your physician today,
or visit one of our health screenings.
Cholesterol - Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance
essential to all the cells in your body. The recommended cholesterol
level is 200 or less, and normally your body, primarily your liver,
produces all the cholesterol you need. Consuming foods high in
cholesterol and saturated fats can further accelerate arterial
build-up.
Cigarette smoking - In addition to harming the lungs,
cigarette smoking also injures blood vessel walls, speeds up hardening
of the arteries, increases how hard your heart has to work, and
elevates blood pressure. Smokers have a much higher risk of stroke
than do nonsmokers. If you smoke, you can decrease your chances
of stroke a great deal by just stopping. Go ahead, quit. You’ll
feel better for it. And if you stop smoking today, within two
to five years your stroke risk will be the same as that of someone
who has never smoked.
Obesity - Being overweight strains the entire circulatory
system and predisposes you to higher cholesterol levels, high
blood pressure, and diabetes, which also increases your risk of
stroke. By eating a well-balanced diet low in cholesterol, saturated
fats, and salt, you can control your weight and maintain a healthy
cholesterol level to reduce your chances of s stroke.
Previous stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack) –
If you’ve already had a stroke, your risk of having another
one increases. Additionally, people who have had a TIA are much
more likely to have a stroke as are those who haven’t had a
TIA.
A
Transient Ischemic Attack, or TIA, is a temporary interruption
of flood flow to a part of your brain. The signs and symptoms of
TIA are they same as they are for a stroke, but generally last from
several minutes to 24 hours then disappear, without leaving noticeable
permanent effects. A TIA indicates a serious underlying risk that
a major stroke may follow. People who have had a TIA are much more
likely to have a stroke.
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