6 Tips To Prevent A Stroke

Find out here what are the good habits to follow to prevent a stroke and thus limit its consequences. Take notes !

A stroke is an interruption or decrease in the blood supply to the brain. By cutting off the supply of oxygen and nutrients, brain tissue suffers serious damage which often leads to fatal consequences.

Most worrying is that the number of people affected is increasing: millions of people are at risk. The majority of cases are caused by a blockage in one of the arteries (ischemic stroke). It can also be caused by a ruptured blood vessel or by the temporary interruption of flow to the brain.

Certain factors greatly increase the chances of developing this disease:

• Overweight
• Sedentarism
• Excess alcohol
• Illicit drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamines
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension
• Tobacco
• Sleep Apnea
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular problems (heart failure, heart defects, heart infection, etc.)

Knowing some of the warning signs of a stroke is therefore the key to dealing with an emergency as soon as it arises. While these can manifest in multiple ways, addressing them immediately is key:

• Problems speaking and understanding
• Paralysis or numbness of the face, arms or legs
• Difficulty seeing with one or both eyes
• Severe headaches
• Nausea, dizziness and vomiting
• Difficulty walking and loss of balance

But you don’t have to be in one of the risk groups to have a stroke. Anyone, even someone considered to be in good health, should therefore follow certain guidelines for taking care of their brain and heart health.

1. Exercise helps prevent stroke

One of the most effective habits in preventing a stroke is exercise. It is enough to devote about 150 minutes per week.

This means doing about 5 sessions of 30 minutes. The most recommended activities are the following, among others:

• Bike
• Jump rope
• Fast walk
• Swimming
• Zumba
• Exercises with weights

2. Monitor your cholesterol

High cholesterol, which is too much cholesterol, is also one of the main causes of stroke. 

Since this substance accumulates in the arteries, it can therefore cause a blockage that triggers the attack.

Some ways to stay in control include:

• Limit the consumption of fats, as well as sources of cholesterol
• Exercise regularly
• Increase fiber intake
• Maintain a healthy weight

3. Adopt a healthy diet

It is essential to focus on food, as proper nutrition is essential to protect brain health.

Eating a balanced diet with controlled calories significantly reduces your risk.  Therefore, make sure to:

• Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Eat between five and six meals a day
• Limit your intake of processed products and salt
• To drink a lot of water
• Moderate your intake of proteins and carbohydrates

4. Avoiding cigarettes helps prevent stroke

The toxins contained in cigarettes have a direct impact on arterial health.

As they deteriorate and harden the arteries, they increase the risk of blood clots, coronary heart disease and aneurysm. Therefore, quitting smoking is not an option, but a necessity.

5. Control blood pressure

Having high blood pressure or having sporadic episodes of high blood pressure is the main risk factor for cerebrovascular disease.

In order to reduce the risk, it is therefore essential to follow the medical instructions to keep it at the recommended levels.

6. Lose weight

Overweight or obese patients are one of the main risk groups for this serious disease. The accumulation of fat, especially in the waist area, affects the blood circulation and therefore increases the risk of blood clots and damage.

If the muscle mass index is greater than or equal to 30, the risk to the heart and brain is high. This being the case, the ideal is to stay below 25.