May is Stroke Awareness Month, and the American Stroke and American Heart Associations encourage Missourians to lead healthier lives to reduce their risk of stroke and heart disease.
A news release says up to 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. The organizations hope to help people prevent a stroke by sharing seven healthy habits.
1. Don’t smoke. Smoking is the no. 1 controllable risk factor for stroke. Cigarette smoking, vaping and tobacco products in general, are dangerous for your health. Quitting is one of the best things you can do to improve your health and add years to your life.
2. Manage blood pressure. High blood pressure is the no. 1 cause of strokes. Lowering your blood pressure by just 20 points could cut your risk of dying from a stroke in half. Blood pressure should be less than 120/80.
3. Be physically active. A good starting goal is at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week, but if you don’t want to sweat the numbers, just move more.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Healthy eating starts with simple healthy food choices. You don’t need to stop eating your favorite meals, just use substitutions to make them healthier.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight will help you improve your energy levels and reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
6. Control cholesterol. Large amounts of LDL cholesterol in the blood can cause buildup and blood clots, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Reducing your fat intake, especially trans fats, can help reduce your cholesterol.
7. Control blood sugar. Every two minutes, an adult with diabetes in the United States is hospitalized for a stroke. By managing your blood sugar, you reduce both your risk of developing diabetes and reduce your risk of stroke.
Not all strokes can be prevented, and people who have had a stroke are at high risk of having a second one. In fact, about one in every four stroke survivors will have a second one. Stroke survivors should work with their doctor on a plan to reduce their secondary stroke risk factors as there may be lifestyle changes and medications, such as aspirin, that may help prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of a second stroke. It is important to talk to your doctor before starting an aspirin regimen, because aspirin may not be appropriate for everyone.
Knowing how to recognize a stroke is key to getting life-saving medical attention when every minute matters. Use the acronym F.A.S.T. to remember the most common signs of stroke:
· F – Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
· A – Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
· S – Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue”.
· T – Time to call 911: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get them to the hospital immediately. (Tip: Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms appeared.) .
You can learn more about heart disease and stroke, at heart.org/nomoheartdisease.