Stroke Risks: Understanding The Unexpected Triggers

A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when there is a disruption in the blood flow to the brain, resulting in oxygen deprivation and potential brain cell death within minutes. It can be caused by a blocked artery or bleeding in the brain, leading to either an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. While anyone can experience a stroke, certain risk factors such as age, ethnicity, medical history, and lifestyle choices can increase the likelihood. Recognizing the signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness, and speech difficulties, is crucial for seeking immediate medical attention and improving the chances of recovery.

High blood pressure

Several factors can increase your risk of high blood pressure, including family history, age, physical inactivity, poor diet, obesity, drinking too much alcohol, and stress. Therefore, to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and, consequently, the risk of stroke, it is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing salt and alcohol intake, and quitting smoking.

Tobacco use

There are several ways in which smoking increases the risk of stroke:

• Cholesterol: Smoking reduces 'good' high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and increases 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• Oxygen levels: Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.
• Blood pressure: Tobacco contains nicotine, which elevates heart rate and blood pressure. Half of all strokes are linked to high blood pressure.
• Blood clotting: The chemicals in tobacco smoke thicken the blood and make it more prone to clotting.

When arteries become narrow and less flexible, blood flow is reduced, blood pressure rises, and the likelihood of blood clots increases. If a clot occurs and travels to the brain, or if blood vessels in the brain burst, it will cause a stroke.

Quitting tobacco immediately reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Within 24 hours, the chances of having a heart attack start to decrease. Within five years, the risk of having a stroke will be nearly that of a non-smoker. Within 10 years, the risk of dying from lung cancer is halved, and within 15 years, the risk of heart disease will be similar to that of a non-smoker.

Heart disease

Plaque buildup is the biggest cause of death from heart disease. As we age, our blood vessels can become thickened and stiff, restricting blood flow around the body. This process is known as arteriosclerosis, with a specific type called atherosclerosis involving the buildup of fatty substances and cellular waste (plaques). Atherosclerosis can occur in the arteries supplying blood to the heart, triggering angina or a heart attack, or in the arteries supplying blood to the brain, causing a stroke.

The risk factors for heart disease include family history, genetics, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and vascular disease. It is important to note that heart disease is a serious condition, and the best way to prevent or reduce its effects is to live a healthy lifestyle, regardless of age. This includes choosing healthy meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables, limiting salt and sodium, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and managing any underlying conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

By making these healthy lifestyle choices and having regular medical check-ups, individuals can reduce their risk of heart disease and improve their overall cardiovascular health.

Diabetes

Symptoms of a Stroke

It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a stroke to get help as early as possible. Some common symptoms include:

• Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Trouble speaking or understanding words.
• Sudden blurred or worsening vision in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble swallowing.
• Dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
• Brief loss of consciousness.
• Sudden, intense, and unexplainable headache.

Preventing Stroke in People with Diabetes

While people with diabetes have an increased risk of stroke, they can take several steps to lower their risk:

• Control blood sugar levels by following a diabetes-friendly diet, taking medication, and monitoring blood sugar regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight by eating a nutritious, balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
• Get cholesterol and blood pressure checked regularly and take steps to manage these levels if they are high.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Quit smoking.
• Take preventive medications as prescribed by a doctor.

Weight and exercise

• Slowing the clogging of your arteries
• Keeping your heart healthy
• Lowering your blood pressure
• Stabilising blood sugar
• Reducing cholesterol in your blood

Exercise is also beneficial if you are looking to 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.

According to vascular neurologist Hebah Hefzy, exercising consistently not only helps keep you in shape but also lowers your stroke risk, lessens the severity of a possible stroke, and aids in better recovery if you've had a stroke before. Studies have found that people who run, even at slower speeds for short amounts of time (as little as 5-10 minutes a day), have as much as a 45% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality than those who don't run at all. Additionally, moderate-intensity aerobic activities can reduce the likelihood of stroke by 20%, and this risk can be reduced by as much as 60% with daily moderate-intensity activities for 30-60 minutes.

The American Heart Association recommends getting at least 150-300 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise weekly or 75-150 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise to improve your cardiovascular health. Any type of physical activity is better than none, and it is better to be physically active every day than to engage in intense workouts only a few days a week.

• Something is better than nothing. Look for opportunities to squeeze in a short workout or walk, even on busy days.
• Find a workout buddy to help keep you accountable.
• Switch up your routine to stay motivated. Try something new now and then.
• Be smart about recovery. Allow yourself time to cool down and stretch after a workout.
• Redefine rest days. Instead of spending them on the couch, opt for lower-intensity workouts and dynamic stretches.

Remember, it's not just about the intensity of your workouts but also about consistency.

Frequently asked questions