Understanding the risk factors of strokes

According to the American Stroke Association, a stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the number three cause of death in the United States. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this happens, a part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs so it starts to die.

You may be asking yourself how does someone have a stroke? Well, risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, high blood cholesterol, poor diet and physical inactivity or obesity. Warning signs of a stroke include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or let, especially on one side of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, other signs include sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and finally sudden severe, headache with no known cause. If you or someone with you has one or more of these signs.. Act quickly and immediately call 911.

There are things you can do to prevent a stroke, like knowing your blood pressure, if you smoke you should stop, and if you drink alcohol do so in moderation, you should also find out if you have high cholesterol, exercise and finally eat a diet that's low in sodium and fat.

Back to Home