A stroke is caused when blood supply to a portion of the brain is cut off. This can last for a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes. Even if the brain is deprived of oxygen-carrying blood for a minute or two, brain cells can die, resulting in brain damage. Given the risks of stroke, to prevent a stroke is a highly desirable objective.
It should be noted that people cannot always prevent a stroke. Some necessary surgeries can create the risk of stroke, especially for people with congenital heart defects. In these cases, risk of stroke is outweighed by benefits of surgery.
For most people, stroke prevention should begin in childhood, but if it hasn’t, any efforts to prevent a stroke as an adult can also decrease the likelihood of having one. For example, children can begin to prevent a stroke from ever occurring by eating healthy diets and getting plenty of exercise. Diets should be low in saturated fat, especially for children over five, since one of the main causes of stroke is accumulation of plaque in the arteries. Plaque build-up can break off and form a blockage of blood to the brain.
As we age, we can pick up some habits that are less likely to help us prevent a stroke. Smoking, for instance, greatly increases our chances of having a stroke. Poor diet and lack of exercise can make it more challenging to prevent a stroke. They can lead to conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, which are both contributing risk factors for strokes.
Although oral, hormone based contraceptives are in common use, they can increase risk for stroke. This risk increases as we age. Smoking and using hormonal contraceptives, especially after the age of 35 can greatly increase the chance of having a sudden stroke.
People who are overweight often are at greater risk for stroke. People who are carrying extra pounds should try to modify diet and get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. Even if you don’t lose a lot of weight, a healthier diet and daily exercise can help prevent a stroke.
The main ways to prevent a stroke are the following:
Sometimes people have family histories that work against them as they try to prevent a stroke. A person who eats a healthy diet can still struggle with high cholesterol, diabetes, abnormal heart rhythms, or high blood pressure. Knowing your family history can help you prevent a stroke, because medications exist to treat these conditions. Most importantly, if your family medical history contains risk factors for stroke, regularly stay under the care of a physician to monitor these risk factors, and check them with medication as needed.
