4 things to reduce your stroke risk.
“The blood jet is poetry,
There is no stopping it.”
― from “Kindness” by Sylvia Plath, Ariel
IMAGINE YOUR BRAIN’S BLOOD SUPPLY is suddenly lost. There is only a limited time before your brain cells begin to die. You have now entered the world of a stroke or cerebrovascular accident. For some individuals, failure to get medical attention in time can lead to brain damage.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. I find it striking that one American experiences a stroke every 40 seconds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in 20 adult deaths is due to stroke. Many of these deaths are preventable. After decades of declining rates, progress has slowed in preventing stroke deaths.
Unfortunately, the statistics on the frequency of strokes are not currently looking up, the CDC warns. And so invite you to join me in exploring the four things you need to do to drop your stroke risk by upwards of 80 percent.
Here are your ABCs for dropping your risk of ever suffering from a stroke. “A” is for aspirin, “B” is for blood pressure, “C” is for cholesterol, and “S” is for no smoking.
A is for aspirin
Taking a low-dose daily aspirin may lower stroke risk for selected individuals. This approach is not for all but rather may be used for those at higher risk of stroke. Ask your doctor if your personal and family health history suggests that you may be a candidate. Here is the take of the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force:
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends daily aspirin therapy if you are age 50 to 59, are not at an increased risk of bleeding, and have an increased risk of heart attack or stroke of ten percent or higher over the next ten years.
B is for blood pressure
High blood pressure is a leading cause of stroke and may be the most significant controllable risk factor. Know your numbers and keep them low. If you have high blood pressure, with medical guidance, work to keep it under control.
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