What probabilities I have suffering a stroke?
The term stroke refers to a sudden disorder of cerebral circulation, which affects the function of a certain region of the brain. In cerebral ischemia the arrival of blood to the brain is interrupted and originates a brain dysfunction which symptoms will depend on the area in where this dysfunction will take place. They are disorders that have in common their sudden onset and often are the result of the confluence of a number of personal, environmental, social elements, which we call risk factors.
Risk factors for a stroke typically accumulate within the years, however, changes in life habits and its precocity, are greatly increasing the risk for younger people.
Can a stroke be prevented?
According to studies carried out by the National Association of Stroke Accidents from United Kingdom, between 60% and 80% of strokes are preventable. Therefore, in 2013 the Casaverde Foundation launched an intensive campaign which main objective is to let know about this pathology, which already is the leading cause of death for women in Spain according to the Group's study from Spanish Diseases Stroke Society Spanish (GEECV-SEN), and communicate that it can be prevented.
The Group Casaverde (which in addition to the Foundation manages two hospitals specialized in neurological and physical rehabilitation, three residential health centers and home health services centre) has a large multidisciplinary team with high qualification, which is responsible for disseminating basic knowledge among the population through the above-mentioned communication campaign: what can I do to prevent a stroke?
10 tips for preventing stroke:
- 1. Monitor and control blood pressure.
Hypertension is the main risk factor in the appearing of the stroke. Having high blood pressure can multiply by four the probabilities suffering a stroke.
- 2. Practice regular physical exercise
Physical exercise is the key to keep a strong heart and clean arteries, the best allies in the prevention of stroke. Avoid a sedentary lifestyle is important.
- 3. Stop smoking
Tobacco increases a lot the risk of suffering a stroke and it is the main risk factor occurring in young people who have suffered it.
- 4. Know your cholesterol levels
Cholesterol and tobacco are the main cause of creation of atherosclerotic plaque, which cause the emergence of blockages in the arteries that irrigate the brain. A simple test can help us to know our levels and reduce the cholesterol level.
- 5. Control your weight
Obesity often brings associated problems such as cholesterol or sedentary lifestyle and coronary artery disease.
- 6. Careful with sugar
Diabetes, in addition to reducing the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin, affects the blood vessels of the body, leading to an increased probability of suffering a stroke.
- 7. Reduce stress levels
Chronic stress increases the chance of suffering a stroke by four.
- 8. Rest properly
Rest, maintain serenity and calm, help to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke since they help reduce blood pressure and repair the cardiovascular system.
- 9. Exercise your brain
Reading and writing, learning new things, doing manual tasks, are experiences that make our brains more resistant against the potential stroke consequences.
- 10. Learn to recognize the warning signs
Detect a stroke in time can save a life and prevent the sequels. It is essential to have information about the signs in time. Some of the most common are: experience the feeling of numbness in the hand or leg or half of the body, babble and not being able to talk, speaking without sense, feel one side of the face asleep, losing the vision of one side, the persistent and unusual headache, etc…
More information about Stroke treatment following this link.
Written by: Manuel C. Menchon Bofill
Head Coordinator at the Multidisciplinary Medical team
Physical and Neurological Rehabilitation Center, Grupo Casaverde.
