January 5, 2022
Take Steps to Prevent Stroke
By Mike Mathews
Milestones Area Agency on Aging
One of the more serious health risks for older adults, is one that is often overlooked—the risk of stroke. According to the American College of Cardiology, every 40 seconds on average, an American will have a stroke. About 795,000 Americans have a new or recurrent stroke annually. Some risk factors for stroke, including your age and family history, can’t be changed.
But there are still many steps you can take to prevent stroke, including getting enough exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and keeping other risk factors under control. We have identified 7 major steps that can be taken to help reduce the risk of stroke.
1. Lower blood pressure
High blood pressure is a huge factor, doubling or even quadrupling your stroke risk if it is not controlled. High blood pressure is the biggest contributor to the risk of stroke in both men and women. Monitoring blood pressure and, if it is elevated, treating it, is probably the biggest difference people can make to their vascular health.
2. Lose weight
Obesity, as well as the complications linked to it (including high blood pressure and diabetes), raises your odds of having a stroke. If you’re overweight, losing as little as 10 pounds can have a real impact on your stroke risk.
3. Exercise more
Exercise contributes to losing weight and lowering blood pressure, but it also stands on its own as an independent stroke reducer.
4. If you drink — do it in moderation
Drinking a little alcohol is okay, and it may decrease your risk of stroke. Studies show that if you have about one drink per day, your risk may be lower. Once you start drinking more than two drinks per day, your risk goes up very sharply.
5. Treat atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a form of irregular heartbeat that causes clots to form in the heart. Those clots can then travel to the brain, producing a stroke. Atrial fibrillation carries almost a fivefold risk of stroke.
Having high blood sugar damages blood vessels over time, making clots more likely to form inside them.
6. Quit smoking
Smoking accelerates clot formation in a couple of different ways. It thickens your blood, and it increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, smoking cessation is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your stroke risk significantly.
Milestones Area Agency on Aging offers health and programs to help mitigate the risk factors and maintain overall wellness. Please visit milestonesaaa.org/evidence-based-programming or call (855) 410-6222 to learn about available programs.
Milestones Area Agency on Aging offers Falls Prevention courses along with other wellness programs. To inquire about current programs, please call (855) 410-6222 or visit milestonesaaa.org.
