How to prevent a stroke
Cerebrovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in Russia. The share of acute cerebral circulatory disorders (stroke) in the structure of total mortality in our country is more than 21%, and disability after a stroke ranks first among all causes of primary disability.
It is especially important to recognize the risk factors for stroke in a timely manner. An important role here is played by age, gender and hereditary predisposition of a person, as well as the presence of arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus, and asymptomatic carotid artery disease. Lifestyle is also important: alcohol and smoking abuse, overweight and poor nutrition, insufficient physical activity, stress, etc.
Stroke prevention consists of the following provisions.
Know your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure daily if you suffer from hypertension or once every 3 months, even if you consider yourself healthy. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep it under control.
Find out if you have a heart rhythm disorder. Cardiac arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat that disrupts cardiac function and allows blood to stagnate in some parts of the heart. Blood that does not move through the body can clot. Contractions of the heart can separate part of the blood clot into the general blood flow, which can lead to impaired cerebral circulation.
Cardiac arrhythmia can be confirmed by electrocardiography. If you have a heart rhythm disorder, your doctor may suggest that you take medications that reduce blood clotting.
Consult your doctor if you have circulatory problems. Strokes can be associated not only with problems related to the heart, but also with the arteries and veins, or the blood flowing through them. In addition, fat depots caused by atherosclerosis or other diseases can disrupt blood flow through the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the brain.
If you smoke, stop. The risk of stroke in smokers is 6 times higher than in non-smokers. As soon as you stop smoking, your risk of stroke will begin to decrease immediately, and after five years, your risk of stroke will be the same as that of non-smokers.
Do not abuse alcohol. Excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of stroke. Remember that alcohol can interact with the medications you are taking and it is dangerous in large doses.
Find out if you have high cholesterol. An increase in cholesterol increases the risk of stroke. Its reduction in most people can be achieved by diet and exercise, some require medication therapy. Taking medications and selecting their dose should be carried out under the control of the blood lipid profile and must be combined with a special diet.
If you have diabetes, strictly follow your doctor's recommendations to control your diabetes. Having diabetes increases your risk of stroke, but by controlling your blood glucose levels, you can reduce your risk of stroke. Work with your doctor to create a nutrition program that meets your needs and your lifestyle.
Use physical exercise to increase your activity in your normal life. Walking for 30 minutes every day can improve your health and reduce your risk of stroke. If you do not like walking, choose other types of physical activity that are suitable for you: cycling, swimming, dancing, etc.
Avoid salt, and eat fruits, vegetables, and fish regularly. Reducing salt intake per 100 mmol / day (5.8 g of table salt – no more than 1 teaspoon) reduces stroke mortality by 23%. The use of vegetables and fruits prevents stroke due to the activation of antioxidant mechanisms and a smaller amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids, an increase in potassium content. Eating oily sea fish and salmon 2-4 times a week reduces the risk of stroke by 48% compared to those who included fish in their diet only once a week and less often.
Neurologist
GUZ " Lipetsk Regional Clinical Hospital»
Shchegolev Alexander Yuryevich
