Strokes And Their Risk factors

A stroke is a cardiovascular disease(CVD) which is the number 1 killer globally. Millions of people die each year due to a stroke.

Types of Strokes
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked, the blockage could be due to a blood clot or fatty deposits in the lining of the blood vessels. The obstruction prevents the flow of blood to the brain.

About 85% of strokes are of this type, they are ischemic strokes.

A stroke can also occur when an artery ruptures or when there is bleeding between the brain and the tissue covering it. This is a  hemorrhagic stroke.

Risk factors
Some risk factors are avoidable, some are not. The major risk factors are fortunately the avoidable ones, they are:


Physical inactivity- Physical inactivity is the cause of 20% of cardiovascular diseases worldwide. Physical inactivity increases one's risk for a stroke by 50%.

The recommended physical activity to prevent non-communicable diseases such as strokes is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobics each week.  Brisk walking is an example.


Unhealthy eating- When salt, saturated and trans fat are consumed without limits, they turn any diet into an unhealthy one. There are daily recommendations to control their use and to prevent chronic diseases such as strokes.  A diet deficient of vegetables and fruit is a major risk factor.

Unhealthy eating is the cause of 11% of strokes.

Hypertension-High blood pressure, a reading of 140/90 or more accounts for about 1/2 of all cases of strokes.  The risk for CVD's doubles as the reading  increases.


Other Risk Factors:

• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Smoking- Your chances of another or dying are increased if you smoke
• Age- The risk doubles every decade after 55
• Hereditary- The risk is increased if a first blood relative has had one
• Diabetes
• Sedentary lifestyle

A patient who has suffered a stroke will be given: emergency care, treatment to prevent another stroke and /or treatment for the complications of the stroke.

Prevention
Prevention starts early in life. Those who pursue a healthy lifestyle working towards reducing risk factors will decrease their chances of ever developing CVD's.

These habits will do it:

• Quit Smoking
• Keep physically active
• Reduce sedentary time 
• Eat a diet rich in fruit and vegetables
• Limit fat intake
• Develop a healthy eating pattern
• Maintain a health weight

Self care throughout the lifespan is a very important preventative measure against all cardiovascular diseases. Self care is health care provided by you at home. Even if you suffer a stroke you will need to self care at home to make good recovery and improve quality of life.

For more information and to learn how to self care at home .Click Here.