A stroke is a serious disease that is associated with acute circulatory failure in the brain, which threatens with unpredictable consequences for the body. Even if the symptoms have passed outbreak, it is important to undergo a preventive examination by a neurologist and therapist, since it is much easier to prevent a stroke than to deal with serious complications up to a fatal outcome.
Today we will look at 10 effective ways to prevent stroke in patients at risk.
10. Take steps to prevent diabetes
First of all, people with a disruption of the endocrine system, including diabetics, belong to the risk group for stroke. To prevent complications of the disease, regularly monitor the concentration of glucose in the blood, undergo the necessary laboratory tests, avoid obesity and follow the recommended low-carb diet. Moderate physical activity, frequent walks in the fresh air, taking multivitamins and minerals, antioxidants to maintain the functioning of brain cells are very useful.
9. Fight Overweight
Diabetics are more prone to stroke because they are often overweight. Obesity is one of the causes of circulatory disorders in the body, as a result of which internal organs suffer, namely the kidneys, liver, heart, blood vessels, etc. Extra pounds is not a sentence, but obesity as a disease causes an increased risk of stroke in middle and elderly people. age.
8. Avoid high cholesterol foods.
It is known that cholesterol plaques most like to be deposited on the thin and fragile walls of blood vessels, as a result of which the circulation of blood in the body is impeded. Oxygen starvation develops in the brain over time, which can lead to tissue edema and stroke. To cleanse cells of cholesterol (found in meat and offal, dairy and sour-milk products), eat pectins and fiber, which include dietary fiber, bind and remove toxins from the body. You can find fiber in fruits (pears, apples, citruses, melons, berries, etc.), cereals (oatmeal, bulgur, bran, wheat), legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas). Unsaturated fats - vegetable oils (olive, linseed, sesame, etc.), nuts, sea fish, reduce cholesterol well. People after 40-50 should check their cholesterol every 5 years.
7. Stop smoking
It's no secret that smoking increases the likelihood of cerebral hemorrhage by 4 times. This is due to the fact that nicotine and harmful compounds, when absorbed into the blood, increase pressure, disrupting blood flow. In addition, the carbon monoxide of cigarettes leads to oxygen starvation of tissues, and smoke provokes a violation of hemostasis and blood clotting, which increases the risk of blood clots. All these factors in sum worsen the state of the cardiovascular and circulatory system.
6. Monitor your blood pressure
Bad habits, such as alcoholism and smoking, lead to a regular increase in blood pressure and simultaneous deterioration of the vascular walls. However, blood pressure may increase for other reasons - stress, weather conditions, heredity, pregnancy. With hypertension, the risk of stroke increases, especially in people older than 50 years. To monitor the pressure, purchase a tonometer and regularly take measurements, recording data in a diary. Always have the means at hand to quickly stabilize blood pressure. Also, people with hypertensive conditions are contraindicated in excitement and intense physical activity.
5. Watch your sleep
Sleep deficiency affects all internal processes in the body. It's no secret that a person needs about 7-9 hours of continuous sleep daily for a full recovery. But for people predisposed to a stroke, the numbers change somewhat - up to 7 hours of rest. Surprisingly, the longer a person at risk rests, the higher the likelihood of hemorrhage. By the way, snoring during sleep also brings the development of a serious disease closer, as it provokes a metabolic syndrome.
4. Forget about alcohol
Alcohol, like tobacco, wears out the cardiovascular system, leads to alternate narrowing and expansion of blood vessels, thinning their walls, making them weaker and less elastic. With age, alcohol also affects blood pressure, increasing the risk of hypertensive conditions, which often lead to cerebral hemorrhage. In case of abuse, general intoxication of the body and oxygen starvation of the brain against this background are observed, therefore alcoholics are more likely to suffer a stroke with irreversible consequences.
3. Watch your heart rate
A muscle pumps our blood in portions, so the blood flow in vital organs, including the brain, depends on the frequency of contractions and rhythms. It is known that patients with atrial fibrillation and other types of arrhythmias, tachycardia and myocardial infarction have a greater risk of having a stroke. It is important for such people to control the formation of blood clots in the vessels, to regularly conduct MRI and ultrasound of the cardiovascular system, brain. By the way, atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke by almost 5 times (15% of cases of patients with ischemic stroke, 25% of the pathology in patients older than 80 years).
2. Pay attention to consumed foods.
Control weight and cholesterol, cleanse the body of toxins and toxins, saturate with vitamins and minerals to strengthen the work of the cardiovascular system and the brain. Vegetables and fruits, cereals and cereals, whole grain bread, milk and fish, lean poultry meat, rabbit, veal, etc. must be present in the diet. Limit the use of salt and sugar, which will positively affect the work of the pancreas, kidneys, reduce the risk of diabetes and swelling. Also, the likelihood of a stroke is reduced by about 20% in sweet potatoes, dried fruits, bananas, tomato paste and other potassium-rich foods. Olive oil also helps reduce the risk of pathology by 40%, so use it for dressing salads, frying and stewing foods.
1. If you think your body is prone to stroke, see your doctor
A wise decision for patients who are at risk have a family history of cerebral stroke or have found symptoms characteristic of the disease. We recommend that you consult with a neurologist if your age has exceeded 50. For the prevention of the disease, doctors may prescribe the following drugs: antihypertensive drugs (reduce blood pressure), antiplatelet agents (help dissolve blood clots), diuretics (diuretics that remove salt from the body, reducing swelling).
Remember that a stroke is a serious disease with a mass of complications that are sometimes impossible to predict. Also, a high risk of coma and death. Get started on a timely basis, rather than wait for critical symptoms.