Reducing the Risk for Stroke (Cerebrovascular Accident)

What is a stroke?

A stroke is damage to part of the brain when its blood supply is suddenly reduced or stopped. A stroke causes a loss of function, sometimes permanently, in the part of the body that is controlled by the damaged part of the brain. Only 1 in 3 stroke victims recover completely. Another 1 in 3 have a permanent disability from the stroke. The remaining third are killed by the stroke.

Stroke is rare before age 60 but then is more likely the older you get. The risk of stroke is higher in people whose relatives have had strokes. You can't stop getting older and you can't change your family medical history, but your lifestyle can affect most of the other risk factors. If you have had a stroke, you risk having more strokes if the underlying causes are not eliminated.

What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a temporary loss in brain function when the brain does not get enough blood for a short time. It is a minor stroke that does not cause permanent damage. One-quarter to one-third of TIAs are followed by a stroke within 5 years.

Which medical conditions increase the risk for stroke?

Medical problems that increase the risk for stroke include high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes. If you have these problems, be sure to follow the treatment recommended by your healthcare provider.

• High blood pressure (hypertension) puts strain on the walls of the arteries and increases the risk for stroke. If you have high blood pressure, discuss it with your healthcare provider. You may be able to lower your blood pressure with changes in your diet, weight control, exercise, relaxation, and stress reduction. You may also need medicine, however.
• Narrowed arteries due to atherosclerosis and high blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) also increase your risk, but they can be treated. Some options include a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
• Heart conditions can both cause and be caused by blood clots, but medicine is available to thin the blood and reduce clotting.
• If you have diabetes, monitor and control your blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes requires taking insulin the rest of your life. Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be controlled by diet. Medicine may be needed as well.

What lifestyle habits increase the risk for stroke?

• Lack of exercise (a sedentary lifestyle) increases the risk for stroke. Regular exercise reduces the risk by lowering both blood pressure and blood cholesterol, helping control weight, and improving blood circulation.
• Both smoking and heavy use of alcohol increase the risk for stroke. Quitting helps lower the risk.
• Being overweight strains the heart, is a major cause of type 2 diabetes, and increases both blood pressure and blood cholesterol. Exercise and a low-fat diet help reverse these conditions.

How can I help protect myself from stroke?

• If you have had a TIA or stroke, follow your healthcare provider's advice for preventing more strokes.
• Ask your provider if you should take aspirin. Low-dose aspirin therapy reduces the risk of stroke for women. For men, aspirin has been found to lower the risk of a first-time heart attack but has little effect on the risk of stroke.
• Don't ignore high blood pressure or high blood cholesterol. Talk to your provider.
• Follow your treatment plan if you have heart disease or diabetes.
• Get regular medical checkups. Follow your provider's advice for health maintenance.
• If you are overweight, talk to your provider about weight control.
• Switch to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet.
• Exercise daily. For example, walk at least a mile a day. Don't skip days.
• Recreation is important for stress reduction. Enjoy life, relax more, and try to limit stress.
• If you smoke, quit. Talk with your provider if you need help quitting.
• If you regularly have 2 or more alcoholic drinks a day, cut back to 1 or none.

Developed by Ann Carter, MD, for RelayHealth.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.