Stroke prevention can begin right now. Regardless of your age or family history, protect yourself and avoid stroke.
What steps can you take to avoid a stroke? Having a mother, father, or other close relative who has had a stroke makes us more susceptible to having one.
Although you can’t turn back the clock or change your family history, you can control many other stroke risk factors if you’re aware of them. Knowledge is a powerful tool. You can take actions to mitigate the impact of a risk factor that is damaging your health and predisposing you to a higher risk of stroke if you are aware of it.
style="text-align: left;">How to Avoid a Stroke
Here are seven strategies to start reducing your chances today to avoid a stroke before it happens.
If your blood pressure isn’t under control, it can double or even quadruple your risk of stroke. In both men and women, high blood pressure is the most common cause of stroke. The most significant change people can make in their vascular health is to monitor their blood pressure and, if it is elevated, to treat it.
Your objective is to: Maintaining a blood pressure of less than 120/80 is an ideal target. However, there may be valid reasons why you and your physician do not want your readings to be this low. A less aggressive aim (such as no more than 140/90) may be more suited for some people.
How to get there:
Limit your daily salt intake to no more than 1,500 mg (about a half teaspoon).
High-cholesterol foods, such as burgers, cheese, and ice cream, should be avoided.
Every day, have 4 to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables, one serving of fish every two to three weeks, and multiple portions of whole grains and low-fat dairy.
7. Give up smoking
Smoking has a number of effects on the production of clots. It thickens your blood and causes plaque buildup in your arteries to rise. Along with a good diet and regular exercise, quitting smoking is one of the most effective lifestyle changes you can make to lower your stroke risk.
Your goal is to stop smoking.
How to get there:
Consult your doctor for guidance on the best approach to quit smoking.
Use quit-smoking aids like nicotine pills or patches, counseling, or medicine to help you quit smoking.
Please don’t give up. Most smokers require multiple attempts to quit. Consider each attempt as a step toward successfully breaking the habit.
Recognize a stroke. F-A-S-T
Too many people disregard the signals of a stroke because they doubt their symptoms are genuine. If you’re experiencing any strange symptoms, don’t wait. Pay attention to your body and follow your instincts. If something isn’t quite right, get professional assistance straight away.
The National Stroke Association has devised a simple acronym to aid in remembering and responding to the symptoms of a stroke. For simple reference, cut off this image and post it on your refrigerator.
The following are symptoms of a stroke:
On one side of the body, there is a weakness.
A feeling of numbness in the face
A strong and unique headache
Loss of eyesight
Tingling and numbness
Shaky stride
LEARN MORE: NATURAL HOME REMEDY FOR PNEUMONIA, HEALTH BENEFITS OF NONI JUICE