A stroke is a common cause of death and sickness in many countries including Anguilla. It is estimated that 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. Despite the many advances in medicine, prevention of strokes is still considered the best option to decrease the death rate from this condition.
What is a stroke?
A stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke include a sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, vision problems, confusion, trouble walking or talking, dizziness and slurred speech. A stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt management is needed to prevent death and further complications.
Do you know your risk factors?
The more you know about your personal risk of getting a stroke, the better you can prevent it. You should know that people with sickle cell anemia, heart and artery diseases and previous incidences of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attacks are more at risk of developing a stroke. Other stroke risk factors include age, family history of stroke, race (people of African descent are more at risk of dying from stroke than Caucasians) and gender (women are more likely to have strokes and die from them than men).
What can you do to prevent strokes?
There are several things an individual can do to decrease the risk of getting a stroke, some are simple while others are more challenging. The following preventative measures will go a long way in decreasing the incidences of strokes.
Control high blood pressure
Many individuals in Anguilla have hypertension, which is the leading cause of stroke. To help keep high blood pressure under control, regularly monitor your blood pressure numbers on your own, and work with a doctor to plan goals and medication use. An active lifestyle and healthy diet go a long way to lower blood pressure. Despite the fact that many individuals in Anguilla have many risk factors for getting high blood pressure, there are several things individuals can do prevent complications. Individuals are encouraged to aim for good control of their blood pressure at all times. Many young persons often ignore their high blood pressure readings. The vast majority of persons with high blood pressure can successfully control their blood pressure and prevent many of its deadly complications like stroke and kidney failure. Talk to your doctor today.
Manage diabetes
People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have a stroke than people without the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. Good management of diabetes is crucial for stroke prevention, and that means keeping blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, as well as exercising and eating healthfully.
Stop smoking
Most people are aware that cigarettes do major damage to their bodies. In terms of stroke, smoking robs the blood of oxygen, forcing the heart to work harder and thus increasing the likelihood of blood clots. We must do more to discourage our young people from picking up this deadly habit in the first place. For those who smoke you can stop. Seek help today; you can kick this deadly habit.
Regular exercise
Having regular exercise can decrease your chances of developing a stroke, in addition to the many other health benefits. There are several activities you can do that are moderate in intensity, such as dancing, jogging, swimming, cycling, brisk walking, backyard gardening, playing cricket (bat and ball) or football with your children and many more. You can do as little as ten minutes at a time on most days of the week to get benefits. Choice activities you enjoy and you will see the benefits.
Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.
There is no doubt that being overweight or obese increases you chances of getting a stroke. Work with your doctor to determine a healthy weight for you and a plan for getting there. Remember to cut back on those carbohydrates. Too much sugar is bad for your health and only increases your chances of becoming overweight and obese
Eat healthfully
Try to eat large amounts of fruits and vegetables. Try using some of our local fruits when they are in abundance. A 2004 Harvard School of Public Health study showed that folks who averaged eight or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables were 30 percent less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke than those who ate 1.5 or fewer daily servings. While fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products are encouraged, you should also limit your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, salt, and Trans fats. You should avoid those processed foods as much as possible as well.
Maintain ideal cholesterol levels
Some individuals do have a tendency to have high cholesterol levels, but with regular exercise, maintaining an ideal weight and eating healthy you can help in controlling your cholesterol levels, which in turn will decrease your chances of getting a stroke. Low-density lipoproteins, known as the “bad” cholesterol, can cause plaque to build up in arteries and potentially block blood flow to the brain. If you are over the age of 40 you should know your cholesterol level and get it check regularly after consultation with your doctor.
Monitor atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (or Afib) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, and people who have it are at a stroke risk five times greater than that of the general population. Many individuals have this disorder and do not know it. A few risk factors include age, heart disease and high blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about identifying and managing atrial fibrillation if you have it and preventing it if you do not.
Recognize the signs of a stroke
If you are someone close to you have symptoms and signs of a stroke you should seek medical attention immediately. The quicker you get medical attention the better your chances of surviving and preventing complications from strokes.
The acronym to remember stroke symptoms is F.A.S.T.:
Face drooping or numbness (is the person’s mouth uneven when you ask her to smile?)
Arm numbness or weakness (can she raise both arms?),
Speech difficulty (is her speech slurred when you ask her to repeat a phrase?) – If you see any of these signs, it is
Time to immediately call 911.
Conclusion
Having a stroke can result in many problems, ranging from slight disabilities to death. Knowledge of the risk factors for getting a stroke and adopting measures to prevent a stroke can go a long way to improve your health and also preventing strokes and the complications from strokes. Uncontrolled high blood pressure and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus are the leading factors for individuals getting strokes in Anguilla. Talk to your health care provider on how you can successful manage these chronic conditions.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
