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Stroke
How Can I Prevent a Stroke?
Measures that reduce the chances of stroke are the same as those for avoiding heart attack. Adopt habits that promote cardiovascular health and deter atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The essentials of a healthy lifestyle include eating foods that are low in fat, salt, and cholesterol; exercising regularly; controlling weight; monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels; limiting alcohol; and not smoking.
A few other tips to prevent stroke:
- Get adequate treatment of atrial fibrillation. This heart arrhythmia can cause stroke.
- Get treated for sleep apnea, if you have it.
- Learn stress management techniques.
- Exercise.
- Control your diabetes, if you have it.
- Limit alcohol use.
If your risk of stroke is high because of severe atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, or a history of heart disease, TIAs or previous strokes - you should see a doctor regularly. When clot stroke is the indicated danger, your doctor may advise an aspirin a day to thin blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. If you have diabetes, keep it under control, since it increases your risk of stroke.
For people who have partial obstruction of a carotid artery — the artery in the neck that provides blood supply to the brain — a surgery called a carotid endarterectomy may be an option to prevent a stroke or TIA. This procedure involves the removal of fat and plaque buildup from these arteries.
If diagnosed early, because of warning signs of a problem, a carotid aneurysm can be repaired, preventing a possible stroke.
SOURCES: World Health Organization. Silbergleit, R, "Thrombolysis for Acute Stroke: The Incontrovertible, the Controvertible, and the Uncertain," Academy of Emergency Medicine, 2005 Apr;12(4):348-51. Braunwld, E. (editor); et al, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 16th Edition, McGraw-Hill Professional, July 23, 2004. Bendixen B.; Ocava L., "Evaluation and Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke," Current Cardiology Report 2002 Mar;4(2):149-57. Berger C.; Schramm P.; Schwab S., "Reduction of Diffusion-weighted MRI Lesion Volume After Early Moderate Hypothermia in Ischemic Stroke," Stroke. 2005 June;36(6):e56-8. Roy, M.; Ray, A., "Effect of body temperature on mortality of acute stroke," Journal of Association of Physicians of India. 2004 Dec;52:959-61.
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