May is Stroke Awareness Month

What is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood supply to part of the brain is blocked, or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. As a result of either of these scenarios, parts of the brain do not receive oxygenated blood which supports brain health. A stroke can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or death. The good news is that strokes are preventable and treatable.

Are there different types of strokes?
There are two types of strokes: ischemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots or plaque (fatty deposits) block blood vessels to the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when an artery in the brain leaks blood or breaks open. The leaked blood puts too much pressure on brain cells, causing damage. High blood pressure and aneurysms are examples of conditions which can cause a hemorrhagic stroke.

Stroke Warning Signs
Use the letters in F.A.S.T to spot a stroke.

F = face drooping – ask the person to smile. See if their face droops on one side.
A = arm weakness – ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = speech difficulty – is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, such as: “Today is a sunny day”.
T = time to call 911 – check the time so you will know when the first symptoms appeared.

Also, watch for sudden:

• Numbness – experiencing a feeling of pins and needles in the face, arm, or leg.
• Confusion – unable to understand what is happening or can’t think clearly.
• Trouble seeing – blurred vision or trouble with eyesight in one or both eyes.
• Trouble walking – wobbling around or tripping over nothing.
• Severe headache – pain or discomfort as well as sensitivity to light.

Stroke Prevention: What You Can Do

Choose healthy foods and drinks – Eating foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high cholesterol. Limiting salt in your diet can lower your blood pressure. High cholesterol and high blood pressure increases your chances of having a stroke.

• High cholesterol foods to limit/avoid: liver, organ meats, eggs
• High saturated fat foods to limit/avoid: highly marbled meat, coconut oil, palm/palm kernel oil, whole milk dairy foods, butter

Get regular physical activity – Physical activity can help to maintain a healthy weight and lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days per week. This can be achieved by walking, following an online workout or yoga video, or dancing to music in your home.

Don’t smoke – Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for stroke. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for stroke.

Limit alcohol – Excess alcohol intake can raise your blood pressure. Moderate alcohol intake is two beverages per day for men and one beverage per day for women. Standard alcohol beverage serving sizes include: 12 ounces beer, 8 ounces malt liquor, 5 ounces wine, or 1.5 ounces distilled spirt (gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).

Check cholesterol – Your doctor should test your cholesterol levels at least once every 5 years. If you have high cholesterol, medicine and lifestyle changes can help lower your risk for stroke.

Control blood pressure – High blood pressure is known as the silent killer, as it does not usually have any symptoms. You can check your blood pressure at home, at a doctor’s office, or at a pharmacy. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medicine, suggest lifestyle changes, or recommend that you follow a low sodium diet.

Control diabetes – If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes including a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Adhering to these guidelines will help keep your blood sugar under control and lower your risk for a stroke.