Brain strokes are one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States. However, the positive is that many strokes can be prevented through behavioural changes and medical treatment.
The risk of brain strokes increases with age, and we must take steps to ensure our brain health. In this blog, we will examine the preventative measures we can take, including lifestyle changes, nutritional choices, and health check-ups.
What Is Brain Stroke and Its Risks?
Brain strokes occur when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted abruptly, either through a blockage (ischaemic stroke) or by bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). This interruption can cause the brain to die, leading to permanent damage or disability. There are many risk factors for which there is a significant association, for example, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and high cholesterol.
Knowing how to avoid a brain stroke gives a person the information they need in terms of how to reduce their risk of having one as they get older. Here are some suggestions for methods that are proven to decrease your risk of a stroke.
How to Prevent Brain Stroke: Brain Stroke Prevention Steps and Strategies
1. Control Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of brain stroke, especially ischaemic stroke. Hypertension means your heart has to work harder, but more importantly, it puts your brain’s blood vessels at higher risk for damage. You can monitor if you have high blood pressure and better manage it with medication, limiting salt intake, and exercising regularly. Monitoring blood pressure and maintaining lower blood pressure, if needed, can greatly reduce your chances of stroke.
2. Manage Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol causes plaque to build up in blood vessels, which can block blood vessels, increasing your chances of a stroke. Eating foods high in omega-3 fats, such as salmon and walnuts, and minimising the amount of trans fat and saturated fat will help keep your cholesterol levels in check. If necessary, medications can also control cholesterol levels.
3. Exercise Regularly
Exercising is crucial to having a healthy heart and brain. Regular physical activity reduces high blood pressure, improves circulation, and lowers cholesterol levels; all significant factors in reducing your chances of stroke. You should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, five days a week. If you’re starting a new exercise plan, even a little is better than nothing, and increase the intensity as you become more comfortable.
4. Quit Smoking and Limit Alcohol Consumption
Cigarette smoking has been shown to damage blood vessels and speed up the process of plaque build-up, which increases the risk of stroke. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health. Similarly, drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, which can contribute to stroke risk. It is recommended that you limit alcohol consumption to one or two drinks a day.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a healthy diet is important in brain stroke prevention. A healthy diet includes a well-balanced intake of foods that are good for your heart and brain. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats is important to good health. The Mediterranean diet promotes a lot of vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish and is one of the best diets to reduce stroke risk. Also, cutting back on or limiting salt can help keep blood pressure in a healthy range.
6. Monitor and Manage Diabetes
Diabetes substantially increases stroke risk due to blood vessel damage. For those persons who have diabetes, it is important to manage blood sugar levels. This can be accomplished by monitoring blood glucose regularly and seeing your healthcare provider regularly, and following recommendations around medication, diet, and an exercise plan. If you are pre-diabetic (at risk for diabetes), implementing early intervention strategies and making lifestyle changes can help delay the onset of diabetes.
7. Get Regular Health Screenings
Regular visits to a healthcare provider for a check-up will help you find risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes sooner rather than later. The sooner you can identify any chronic conditions and take preventive measures to lessen your risk of stroke, the better. It’s also advisable to speak with your doctor about your family’s medical history, since some people have a hereditary propensity toward stroke.
How to Prevent Brain Haemorrhage?
The question of how to prevent brain haemorrhage strokes (those from bleeding) and also ischaemic strokes (those from blockage) appears to be more common and can also have devastating results. To help prevent brain haemorrhages, focus on controlling high blood pressure. High blood pressure affects the inner linings of blood vessels, weakening them and making them more likely to rupture. It is also important to quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption, which can lead to hemorrhagic stroke. When it comes to medical conditions that can lead to an increased risk of a stroke, it’s important to also manage an aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation (AVM), which can all lead to an increased likelihood of bleeding.
Why Choose Olive Elder Care for Geriatric Counselling?
Managing a healthy lifestyle and preventing life-changing illnesses, such as stroke, can benefit from the use of geriatric counselling. Olive Elder Care has specialised geriatric counselling for seniors so they can make informed decisions about their health and wellness. Olive Eldercare encourages healthy living and supports families in coping with all aspects of ageing with our full-service and compassionate staff.
Whether you need consultation to reduce the chances of a stroke, support in managing chronic health issues, or assistance for mental and emotional well-being, Olive Elder Care is here to offer assistance. Access geriatric counselling support at Olive Elder Care and ensure you and your loved ones are living well and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can brain stroke be prevented?
Yes, brain stroke prevention can be done with healthy lifestyle changes, medication, and regular check-ups. By managing blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, exercising regularly, and addressing other major factors (like smoking), you can help avoid stroke.
What is the main cause of a brain stroke?
Some of the leading causes of stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol. All of these issues can damage blood vessels and set off a chain of events that cause blocked blood flow to the brain or ruptured blood vessels in the brain.
How to survive a stroke?
Immediate medical attention is critical when it comes to surviving a stroke, as symptoms such as sudden numbness, confusion, trouble speaking, or severe headaches should be treated as emergencies because the sooner you receive treatment, the greater the chance you have of recovering.
What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke?
The five warning signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg.
- Confusion or trouble speaking.
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance.
- Severe headache with no known cause.
- If you or someone around you experiences these symptoms, please seek medical assistance immediately.
