6 Ways to Help Avoid a Stroke

Strokes are the fifth most prevalent cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability. A stroke is a dangerous health condition that affects blood flow to the brain.

The good news is that about 80% of strokes are preventable through healthy lifestyle habits and regular health monitoring. Knowing your risk of a stroke and making the necessary changes can save your life from this life-altering condition.

At the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute, we’re experts in stroke prevention. Dr. Hesham Fakhri and Dr. Octavio Cosme are board-certified cardiologists who evaluate your health and provide tips and treatments to help you avoid dangerous stroke complications.

The facts on strokes

A stroke is a dangerous medical condition that happens when something blocks oxygenated blood from getting to a part of the brain. A clot in an artery or a vessel bursting are the most prevalent reasons why the blood supply doesn’t reach the brain cells.

When the brain cells don’t have oxygenated blood, they die, causing a variety of issues. The symptoms depend on the part of the brain affected. The common symptoms of a stroke include:

• Sudden severe headache
• Trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
• Sudden onset of confusion
• Difficulty speaking or understanding
• Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
• Loss of balance and trouble walking
• Loss of coordination and dizziness

There are two forms of a stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. An ischemic stroke, the more common form, happens when something like a clot blocks blood flow to the brain cells.

When an artery bursts or begins leaking in the brain, it’s called a hemorrhagic stroke. The blood that leaks into the brain tissue damages the brain cells, causing symptoms. 

Are you at risk for a stroke?

Some people are at a higher risk for stroke than others, so it’s essential to know your risk through regular health screenings. Simply knowing you’re at risk and making necessary lifestyle changes can truly be a lifesaver.

There are both modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors associated with a stroke. The risk factors that are out of your control include:

• Previous history of a stroke
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Sickle cell disease
• Obesity

Although some lifestyle factors may help you avoid the above conditions, genetics may be responsible for many chronic health problems. But there are some things you may be doing that increase your risk for strokes that you can change, and they include:

• Heavy alcohol use
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise 
• An unhealthy diet

Making the changes to live a healthier lifestyle can significantly cut your risk of having a stroke. If you have nonmodifiable risk factors, get regular medical treatment for chronic diseases that could lead to a stroke.

Six prevention tips to live by

You can prevent a stroke by making a few simple lifestyle modifications and getting regular health checkups. We recommend the following six tips to avoid suffering a stroke:

Quit smoking

Avoiding smoking is a major way to prevent a stroke. Smoking damages blood vessels and increases your blood pressure, both of which are risk factors for a stroke. Quitting is the first step in stroke prevention.

Choose healthy foods

What you eat could be causing issues in your arteries, which increases the risk of a stroke. Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium. Instead, choose healthy, whole foods like fresh fruits, lean proteins, vegetables, and healthy fats.

Cut back on alcohol

Drinking too much alcohol raises your blood pressure and increases triglycerides, which could lead to a stroke. Cut back on how much you drink. Women should have no more than one alcoholic drink per day, and men should have no more than two per day.

Manage your weight

Obesity is a major risk factor for a stroke. If you’re overweight or obese, lose weight by changing your diet and exercising to avoid chronic health issues that could cause a stroke.

Control chronic medical conditions

If you’re living with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, keep these conditions under control. Lifestyle changes and medications are crucial in preventing strokes from chronic health problems.

Exercise regularly

Regular physical activity helps you avoid conditions that could increase your risk of stroke. Simply walking everyday, lifting weights, or doing anything that keeps you moving helps you lose weight and maintain a healthy heart.

Call us at the Vein, Heart, and Vascular Institute today to schedule an appointment or request a consultation right here on our website. We're in Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and Sun City Center, Florida.