Like staying off the golf course during a storm to avoid being struck by lightning, there are ways to greatly reduce your risk of suffering a stroke – a sudden blockage or bleeding in your brain. More than 700,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, which makes it the leading cause of disability and the third leading cause of death. On average, in the United States, a stroke occurs every 45 seconds.
"Stroke is arguably the most preventable catastrophic disease there is," says Lewis Morgenstern, MD, a neurologist and director of the University of Michigan's Stroke Program. "They occur when a blood vessel leading to the brain becomes blocked or bursts. Brain cells in the area quickly begin to die because they aren't getting the oxygen and nutrients they need to function.
"Because of the serious and sudden nature of stroke, people need to be aware of their own personal risk and take steps to reduce it," continues Dr. Morgenstern.
If This is You...
For African Americans and Hispanics, genetics and lifestyle combine to give these populations the greatest risk of suffering a stroke.
There's also a gender gap. "If you look at a man and a woman who are the same age, the man has the higher risk of having a stroke at that given age," says Dr. Morgenstern. "But because women live longer than men, the overall lifetime burden of stroke is higher in women. In fact, 62 percent of deaths from strokes occur in women."
Women may ignore symptoms such as numbness on one side of the body, and they tend to get to the hospital more slowly than men do. Often women show less "traditional" stroke symptoms, such as pain and alterations in consciousness. So Dr. Morgenstern urges women to be aware of these potential differences.
Modifiable Risks
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading risk factor for stroke. Critical risk factors also include diabetes, excess salt intake, physical inactivity, smoking, and being overweight. These conditions have been strongly linked to stroke but often can be successfully controlled through diet, exercise, and drug therapy.
Nearly one-quarter of all strokes in the United States could be prevented if people quit smoking. According to Dr. Morgenstern, the risk of stroke greatly diminishes almost immediately after you stop smoking.
Eating a healthy diet is an important prevention strategy for all of us, says Dr. Morgenstern. He cites studies that suggest a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can dramatically reduce the risk of stroke.
"We also know that if you get regular exercise, which can really just be brisk walking, you can halve your risk of having a stroke," he says. "Alcohol consumption also plays an interesting role. Drinking one to two drinks a day seems to be protective, whereas drinking three or more drinks a day increases risk."
Family involvement is also important in stroke prevention and survival. "There is evidence that stroke does occur in families, either because of genetic reasons or because families tend to share the same sort of diet and lifestyle risks," says Dr. Morgenstern. "So it's important to sit down as a family, as well as with your family physician, to discuss ways that you can prevent having a stroke."
If a stroke does occur, every minute counts. The longer the blood flow is cut off, the greater the damage to the brain. Experts agree that getting treatment within 60 minutes can significantly reduce risk of death or long-term disability.
Know These Symptoms of Stroke
- weakness, numbness or tingling on one side of the body
- difficulty speaking or understanding
- trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance
- difficulty seeing with one or both eyes, or double vision
- severe headache with no known cause
- confusion or personality changes
- pain
- alterations in consciousness (becoming confused)
"If you are at risk for stroke, make sure your family knows not to delay if symptoms strike," stresses Dr Morgenstern. "Tell them to pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1." |
