My Stroke .org » Risk factors & prevention

Stroke and Smoking

Webmaster — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:43:28 +0000

Smoking: a poisonous stroke factor

We have all been told over and over that smoking kills, but we may not picture what it represents actually. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking is a major cause of strokes.

Cigarette smoking is directly linked to 30% of all heart disease deaths in the United States each year. Indeed, smoking is hard on the heart, and the toxins in cigarette smoke cause plaques to form in the arteries, which leads to atherosclerosis; arteries progressively harden because of the deposit of fatty plaques and the scarring and thickening of the artery wall. Inflammation of the artery wall and the development of blood clots can obstruct blood flow and cause heart attacks or strokes. Heavy smokers have a relative risk of stroke 2 to 4 times greater than non-smokers.

And what is worse; not only smokers put themselves at risk, but they also threaten other’s health. Cigarette smoke does not just affect smokers. People around smokers are also at risk for developing health problems, especially children that are much more fragile than adults. Passive smoke (also called second-hand smoke) affects people who are frequently around smokers. According to the American Heart Association estimates, each year about 37,000 to 40,000 people die from heart and blood vessel disease caused by other people’s smoke.

But there is a positive point to underline: it is never too late to stop smoking! There are clear health benefits from giving up, regardless of how much you smoke, how affected your health, or your age when you stop. Quitting smoking will reduce your risk of high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease and stroke. To push up your decision to stop smoking, you should know that the risk of stroke decreases steadily after smoking cessation. Former smokers have the same stroke risk as nonsmokers after 5 to 15 years. Better stop right now then and lower our risk to suffer a stroke! Overall, you will only feel healthier. Quit now, be free!

Sources:
Stroke Association
American Heart
BMJ Editorial
Quit Smoking at About.com
Doctor Online NHS UK

Learn to recognize a stroke

Webmaster — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:41:12 +0000

With timely treatment, the risk of death and disability from stroke can be lowered. It is very important to know the symptoms of a stroke and act in time.

Stroke is a medical emergency. Know these warning signs of stroke and teach them to others. Every second counts:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

Call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience symptoms!
Time lost is brain lost!

Easy test to diagnose a potential stroke:
Administrating 3 simple tests will help diagnose a stroke, or at least suspect it and take immediate action. The key word to remember is think FAST.

F = FACE Ask the person to smile.
Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARM Ask the person to raise both arms.
Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence.
Are the words slurred?
Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T = TIME If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important.
Call emergency services (911) or get to the hospital fast.
Brain cells are dying.

Once you have learnt to recognize stoke symptoms, do not hesitate to educate others and save lives!

Source:
National Stroke Association

http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/stroke.asp

http://www.rense.com/general70/strokes.htm

Avoiding another stroke: Exercising

Webmaster — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 06:18:52 +0000

Exercising is not only one of the keys to healthy life; it also helps prevent heart disease and lowers stroke risks. Indeed, inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease and it can also lead to high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Exercising 30 to 40 minutes at least 3 to 4 times a week reduces blood pressure, raises “good cholesterol” and helps regulate insulin requirements. Bring physical activity into your daily life!

Daily physical activity does not require a lot of time, but it benefits your body a lot. It does not mean you have to undergo intensive tough fitness programs but only get used to introducing soft activities in your daily life: chance is, you will not even notice you are exercising!Why not start by exercising at home? It allows your children to see you being active, which sets a good example for them. The best part is that you can combine exercise with other activities.

Try these tips:

Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes.
Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving.
Housework is an exercise too!
Work in the garden or mow the grass. Do not cheat: using a riding mower doesn’t count! Rake leaves, prune, dig and pick up trash.
When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk. Choose a hilly route.
When watching TV, sit up instead of lying on the sofa. Better yet, spend a few minutes pedaling on your stationary bicycle while watching TV. Instead of asking someone to bring you a drink, get up off the couch and get it yourself.
Stand up while talking on the telephone.
Walk the dog and play with him.

Activities with family and friends are also a great way for you to exercise without noticing. Enjoy recreational activities and take good care of your health at the same time. Do not hesitate to look for opportunities such as these to be active and have fun at the same time:

Plan family outings and vacations that include physical activity (strolling, hiking, swimming, etc.)
See the sights in new cities by walking, jogging or bicycling.
Make a date with a friend to enjoy your favorite physical activities. Do them regularly.
Play your favorite music while exercising: that will motivate you.
Dance with someone or by yourself. Take dancing lessons. Hit the dance floor on fast numbers instead of slow ones.
Join a recreational club that emphasizes physical activity.
At a picnic, join in on badminton instead of croquet.

Make up other activities that correspond to your daily life and likes and introduce easy exercising in your life! Do not hesitate to share your tips with your family and friends.

Sources:

Texas Heart Institute

Americanheart.org

National Stroke Association

Preventing risk of another stroke: healthy cooking tips

Webmaster — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:31:48 +0000

Your diet is an important part of your lifestyle after a stroke. Eating the right kinds of foods may help you feel better and get stronger. A well balanced diet helps your body build tissues that may have been harmed and also gives you energy. A low-salt, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet can help prevent a recurrent stroke. People with high blood pressure should limit the amount of salt they eat. Those with high cholesterol or hardening of the arteries should avoid foods containing high levels of saturated fats (i.e., animal fats). These diet controls can enhance the benefits of the drugs which may have been prescribed for control of a specific condition.

Here are some useful cooking tips to help you cook in a healthy style.

Fill your grocery cart with a variety of lean meats and low-fat dairy products, whole grains and lots of fruits and vegetables.
Use cooking methods like roasting, baking, broiling, grilling, braising, sautéing, stir-frying and microwaving to help retain vitamins and minerals and keep fat and calories down.
Choose cooking oils that contain 2 grams or less of saturated fat per teaspoon, such as safflower, soybean, corn, canola and olive oil. Choose liquid or soft-tub margarine and oil-based salad dressing.
Baste meats and poultry with fat-free ingredients, such as wine, fruit juice or defatted beef or chicken broth.
Use chopped vegetables as a substitute for some of the bread when you make stuffing.
Add a few drops of lemon juice to the water you cook pasta in, and eliminate the salt and oil.
Cut down on saturated fat in creamy salad dressings by mixing in some nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt.
In most recipes, one egg white and a little acceptable vegetable oil will substitute well for a whole egg. Egg whites contain no cholesterol and are rich in protein.
Fruits that are fresh or canned in water have fewer calories than fruits in juice or syrup. Drain fruits canned in syrup.

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, your doctor may have special recommendations.

Sources
The American Stroke Association
www.bethabe.org
www.stroke.org