The recent deaths of young people dying from a stroke have generated much interest in ways to prevent a stroke. Having a stroke is a leading cause of death and severe long-term disability in Anguilla. Uncontrolled hypertension is one of the main factors associated with strokes, but other factors are also involved so that stroke prevention can vary from person to person.
What is a stroke?
A stroke occurs when a blood vessel to the brain is either blocked by a clot (ischaemic stroke) or bursts (haemorrhagic stroke). When that happens, part of the brain is no longer getting the blood and oxygen it needs, so it starts to die. Your brain controls your movement and thoughts, so a stroke does not only hurt your brain — it can threaten your ability to think, move and function. Strokes can affect language, memory and vision. Severe strokes may even cause paralysis or death.
A majority of strokes are ischemic strokes— caused by narrowed or clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis) in the brain – that cut off the blood flow to brain cells.
A much smaller percentage of strokes are haemorrhagic strokes (cerebral haemorrhages) that occur when a blood vessel ruptures in or near the brain, resulting in a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) on the surface of the brain or intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) deep within the brain.
Life style behaviour and strokes
There is much evidence to conclude that lifestyles of individuals are associated with strokes. One of the best ways to prevent a stroke is to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol. These lifestyle changes help to decrease atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels. All of these are associated with stroke development.
Medical conditions associated with strokes
Several conditions are known to increase the risk of someone getting a stroke. These medical disorders include the following:
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Atrial fibrillation
• High cholesterol levels
• Diabetes
• Transient ishchaemic attacks (TIA)
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke by damaging and weakening your brain’s blood vessels, causing them to narrow, rupture or leak. High blood pressure can also cause blood clots to form in the arteries leading to your brain, blocking blood flow and potentially causing a stroke. The only way you can know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked by a trained healthcare professional. You can have very high blood pressure and have no signs or symptoms, hence the need for regular medical check-ups. Controlling your blood pressure can prevent many complications including strokes.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common serious heart rhythm disorder and is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke. A patient with atrial fibrillation has a 5-fold increase in the risk of stroke, and 20–30% of all strokes are attributed to this arrhythmia. Not only is AF a major risk factor for stroke, but when strokes occur in association with AF, patients suffer increased levels of mortality, morbidity and disability with longer hospital stays compared with stroke patients without AF. If you have atrial fibrillation you should be treated.
High cholesterol levels
High cholesterol, also known as hyperlipidemia or dyslipidemia, contributes to blood vessel disease, which often leads to stroke. The ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol is the key measurement of your stroke risk. The more HDL you have the lower your risk for stroke. The more LDL that you have, the greater your risk for stroke. It is important that you have a blood test to determine your cholesterol levels at regular intervals. Once your levels are known your doctor will advise you on future management to help prevent stoke development.
Diabetes mellitus
People with diabetes have a higher chance of having heart attacks and strokes than those without diabetes. … Controlling blood sugar levels is very important for preventing heart attacks and strokes. If you have diabetes you should talk to your doctor about the association with strokes and how you can decrease this risk. This might involve the use of medications and lifestyle changes.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
When blood flow to part of the brain stops for a short period of time, also called transient ischemic attack (TIA), it can mimic stroke-like symptoms. While TIAs generally do not cause permanent brain damage, they are serious warning signs that a stroke may happen in the future and should not be ignored. If you had a TIA discuss this with your doctor and take measures to prevent stroke development.
Previous stroke
If you had a previous stroke you are at an increased risk of getting another stroke. Your doctor will explain to you your stroke risk and advise you on what to do to decrease the chances of getting another stroke.
Conclusion
Anyone can get a stroke, but some individuals are at a greater risk than others to get a stroke. There are ways to help prevent a stroke. Knowing your stroke risk factors, following your doctor’s recommendations, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke. It is important to have regular medical check-ups and have appropriate investigations as well. Many strokes can be prevented.
Ask Your Dr 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 MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-six years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5928).
