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Stroke Symptoms
If you see or have any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Treatment can be more effective if given quickly. Every minute counts!
- Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
- Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
- Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe headache with no known cause
Stroke Prevention
There are many positive steps you can take now to reduce your risk of stroke. The most common risk factors are listed below. These include some conditions that can be changed by lifestyle modification or medical treatment, and some, such as hereditary factors, that cannot be changed.
Risk Factors That Can Be Changed |
Risk Factors That Cannot Be Changed |
· Hypertension
(high blood pressure)
· Smoking
· Heart disease
· High cholesterol level
· Excess alcohol intake
· Obesity
· Sedentary lifestyle
· Diabetes
· Elevated hematocrit
(increase in red blood cells)
· Use of oral contraceptives (especially for women who smoke)
· Stress |
· Age
· Sex
· Race
· Family or individual history of stroke or TIA
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How to Reduce Your Risk
Most of the controllable risk factors for stroke relate to cardiovascular fitness. Because stroke is a form of cardiovascular disease, it makes sense that keeping your heart and blood vessels as healthy as possible will reduce your risk of stroke. The following are the most important measures you can take to control your stroke risk. These include changing risk factors by medical treatment as well as by positive lifestyle modifications.
- Regular Medical Check-ups - Risk factors such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and elevated blood cholesterol and lipids, must be monitored by your physician on a regular basis. These risk factors can be changed or, at minimum, controlled, by proper medical treatment and appropriate diet and lifestyle modifications.
- Control Blood Pressure - High blood pressure (hypertension) is the single most important risk factor for stroke. Even mild hypertension, if not adequately treated, increases stroke risk. In general, blood pressure should be below 140/90. Elevated blood pressure promotes atherosclerosis and puts abnormal pressure on blood vessel walls, which can cause a rupture at a weak spot. Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because there may be no obvious symptoms. It is important to check your blood pressure regularly. Controlling blood pressure, whether by low-sodium diet, weight control, stress management and/or medication will reduce your risk of stroke. Remember: medication to control hypertension is effective only if taken on a regular basis, so it is important to follow your physician’s instructions.
Treatment of hypertension in older adults is also important. However, in elderly individuals, an abrupt fall in blood pressure may actually cause a stroke. Therefore, treatment of high blood pressure in the elderly may need to start with small doses of medications, so that blood pressure is reduced gradually. In general, people over the age of 60 should have blood pressure less that 160/90.
- Stop Smoking - Studies confirm that smokers have a higher risk of stroke, regardless of other factors such as age, high blood pressure, or heart disease. The risk declines dramatically within a few years of stopping smoking.
- Treat Heart Disease - A variety of heart conditions, including irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), heart attacks and heart valve disorders, can cause stroke. Treatment of these disorders can reduce stroke risk.
- Improve Diet - Consumption of foods high in fat, cholesterol and salt increases the risk for stroke. The following recommendations are among the most important for stroke prevention. Ask your doctor for more help in identifying dietary culprits and making appropriate substitutions.
Avoid excess fat: High intakes of fat, particularly saturated fat, and cholesterol may contribute to atherosclerosis, which is associated with stroke. Dietary fat and cholesterol may be reduced by limiting fat or oil added in cooking, trimming fat and skin from meats and poultry, using low-fat or non-fat dairy products, broiling and baking foods rather than frying, and limiting eggs to no more than three a week.
Avoid excess sodium: Excess sodium in the diet is linked to hypertension. Table salt is the primary source of dietary sodium. There is also “hidden” salt in most processed and canned foods. Disodium phosphate, monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrate, and any similar compounds in the list of ingredients indicate a high sodium content. Try to eat fresh food whenever possible.
Limit alcohol intake: Individuals who drink alcoholic beverages (more than two drinks per day) have an increased risk of stroke. For heavy drinkers, the risk of stroke increases further. Healthy young adults are just as susceptible to the risk of stroke incurred by heavy alcohol consumption as are older persons.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight - Being overweight strains the heart and blood vessels and is associated with high blood pressure. Obesity also predisposes a person to heart disease and diabetes, both of which increase the risk for stroke. Keeping your weight to recommended levels for your height and build is a prudent preventive measure.
- Exercise Regularly - The percentage of fat in our bodies tends to increase with age. Regular exercise helps keep this increase to a minimum. There appears to be an inverse relationship between exercise and atherosclerosis, i.e., more exercise is linked to lower levels of atherosclerosis.
- Treat Diabetes - The association between diabetes and increased stroke risk seems to be related to the circulatory problems caused by diabetes. Good control of diabetes appears to reduce the cardiovascular complications of the disease.
- Reduce Stress - Because stress may increase blood pressure, it is linked indirectly to stroke risk. A one-time stressful event rarely causes a stroke, but long-term unresolved stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Stress management, including relaxation techniques, biofeedback, exercise and counseling, appears to be useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, those lowering the risk of stroke.
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Facts of Aging Quiz
Quiz Answers
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Personal Care Home Safety Tips
Points to Ponder
Housing Options for Older Adults
Selecting a Home Care Agency
Stroke Prevention Tips
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