There is a growing trend in the incidence of stroke in recent years, with one in six people having strokes on a global scale.
Stroke can lead to serious complications, including paralysis, speech disorders, difficulty swallowing, cognitive impairment, and depression.
About three-fourths of the patients after stroke loses their working ability to some extent and even cannot live independently.
There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.
An ischemic stroke happens when something blocks the flow of blood to the brain. In this case, fatty deposits in arteries break off or blood clots form.
Hemorrhagic stroke is a more serious condition where blood vessels burst out and cause uncontrollable blood pressure.
Stroke is a disease caused by a collection of factors such as lifestyle, environment, and genetics. A huge number of clinical studies have indicated that stroke can be prevented and treated. Early prevention and standardized treatments can effectively reduce stroke incidence and mortality.
There is evidence that high blood pressure is closely related to stroke incidence. Some proven risk factors for stroke include high salt and fat diets, smoking, alcohol drinking, and physical inactivity. Therefore, it is advisable to develop healthy eating habits, quit smoking and alcohol drinking, and do regular exercise.
Followings are some tips that can help you prevent stroke.
- Eat various fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid foods with less salt, fat, and sugar.
- Keep your daily salt consumption within 6 grams.
- Control your weight and drink enough water.
- Do regular exercise like walking, jogging, swimming, etc.
- Avoid overwork.
- Quit smoking and drinking.
- Maintain a stable mood.
Regular health checkups should be conducted to monitor stroke risk. Males over 40 years old and postmenopausal women should check their blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood sugar annually. Once people are detected with high blood pressure, they should control hypertension and receive frequent monitoring.
