Stroke
Prevention & Risk
What is a Stroke?
There is no way to sugar coat it. A stroke is a brain injury. This is a very serious condition that will change your life and the lives of those around you. Having a stroke literally changes the structure of your brain. Which can not only cause your personality to be different but can affect all your mental and physical abilities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says a stroke is "a brain attack that occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts."
When this happens part of the brain becomes damaged due to lack of blood flow and which can cause brain damage leading to serious long term disability or death.
Strokes should be taken very seriously.
Catching a stroke fast can lead to dramatically better recovery success.
See the acronym below to learn the signs of a stroke and call 911 immediately!
Worried A Stroke Might Happen to You?
Take a Stroke Risk Assessment
Types of Stroke
Ischemic
Happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blood clot. This type of stroke accounts for ~87% of all strokes. (CDC)
Hemorrhagic
Occurs when an artery in the brain ruptures or starts to leak blood causing pressure in the brain cells and damages them. (CDC)
TIA
Often called a "Mini-Stroke", a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is different from the other strokes since blood flow to the brain is only blocked temporarily. However, TIA's are generally a warning sign that a larger stroke is in your future. (CDC)
Stroke Statistics
Below are a few stroke statistics everyone should be aware of.
Around 800,000 new strokes happen each year.
1-in-4 people who have had a stroke will have a second one.
Stroke is a leading cause of serious long term disability.
Stroke Reduces mobility in more than 1/2 of survivors ages 65+
About 40% of stroke victims were less than 65 years old.
Getting to the ER within 3 hours of start of stroke symptoms often has less disability 3 months after a stroke than those who delay care.
Risk Factors for Stroke
The sad part is 8 out of 10 stroke are preventable. Living an unhealthy lifestyle is the #1 risk factor for having a stroke. While genetics, medical conditions, and medications can increase risk for a stroke. The vast majority of people are having a stroke due to an unhealthy lifestyle of physical inactivity, high stress levels, being overweight.
Here are the top lifestyle and condition related risk facts for having a stroke.
Lifestyle Risk Factors
Unhealthy Diet
Being Overweight
Physical Inactivity
Excessive Alcohol
Smoking
Stress
Medical Risk Factors
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Diabetes
Atrial Fibrillation
Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Let's Make a Game Plan!
What can you do today to help your decrease your risk for having a stroke?
1
Assess Your Lifestyle.
Take a look at the 6 lifestyle factors listed above. How many of them do you check off?
2
Schedule a Doctor's Visit.
Call and schedule a visit with your primary care doctor to go through your medical history and discuss treatment options for uncontrolled medical conditions.
3
Make Behavior Changes.
It's time to get real about making lifestyle changes such as exercise, meal planning, and abstinence. Seek professional help such as a personal trainer, nutritionist, or addiction counselor if you need extra help. You can also check out our Healthy Living Blog.
