Did you know that approximately 795,000 people suffer from a stroke each year[1]? While some stoke risk factors just can’t be changed, like, your age and your family history, there are other steps you can take to prevent enduring a stroke. Keep reading below to learn more and about how you can keep other risk factors under control.
Nearly three-quarters of all stroke victims occur in people over the age of 651, which is why, if you’re an aging senior, who is living independently, personal protection is key to living a healthy lifestyle. A stroke of bad luck can strike at any time; a bad fall, heart attack, a home fire, or even a home invasion can happen at the drop of a hat; so what can you do? Under the safety of Life Alert’s emergency pendant, you never have to worry about when or where danger may find you. Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, simply push the button on your lightweight and waterproof pendant and summon an emergency medical help fast, 24/7.
Don’t rely on a stoke of good fortune to find good at-home safety; instead, trust the people at Life Alert to keep you safe. Want to know about a few simple, common-sense ways to prevent a stroke and improve your overall health? Sure you do! Check out Everyday Health’s2 list below and get started now.
1. Get Regular Exercise
Not getting enough exercise is associated with a wide range of health problems, including stroke. Exercise may help prevent stroke by helping to reduce other risk factors, including high blood pressure and obesity. In their latest stroke prevention guidelines, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Stroke Association recommended that healthy adults get at least 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise 3 to 4 days a week. "Moderate to vigorous intensity" means you should be breathing hard and your heart rate should be elevated. (1)
2. Eat a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet can go a long way toward lowering blood pressure, which is one of the main risk factors of stroke. Being overweight or obese, eating too much salt, and eating too little potassium can drive up blood pressure. Table salt is not the biggest contributor to salt in the diet. The majority of salt in the American diet comes from breads, meats, sandwiches, soups, and other processed and packaged foods. The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommend adopting a diet that's high in potassium-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and reduced saturated fat to help prevent stroke. The AHA recommends Americans consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, but the ideal limit is 1,500 mg per day for most adults. (2)
3. Manage High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Blood pressure, specifically systolic blood pressure, increases naturally with age. According to some studies, even adults who have normal blood pressure at age 55 will have a 90 percent chance of developing high blood pressure at some point in their life. (3) Healthy habits, including exercise, eating a diet low in sodium, and maintaining a healthy weight, can help to keep blood pressure in the normal range. A number of drugs may also be used to help control blood pressure and reduce stroke risk. They include:
-Diuretics
-Beta-blockers
-ACE inhibitors
Having your blood pressure checked at least once a year can help you manage your risk for stroke. (4)
4. Reduce High Cholesterol
Many scientific studies have found high total cholesterol to be a risk factor for stroke. In addition to adopting healthy eating habits that emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats, cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins may be prescribed to help reduce your risk of clogged arteries. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about whether statins are right for you. (5)
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can double your risk of stroke. If you are a smoker, quitting smoking (even if you have been smoking for a long time) can go a long way in helping to reduce your stroke risk.
Prevention starts with reactiveness. It’s time to start reacting, now. Don’t wait for a bad moment, a bad accident or even a bad stroke to make you be proactive in your health. Get started today by getting Life Alert. Any of their personal protection services can have you getting help fast 24/7. Life Alert’s medical alert system is their signature service and the lightweight, waterproof button can be worn on the wrist or as a pendant. It allows you to get help fast just by touching it. Life Alert also offers Life Alert Mobile with GPS for emergencies away from home. Get Life Alert today and stroke yourself for taking initiative on your health, wellness and safety. To learn more about all of Life Alert’s lifesaving services, call 1-800-513-2934 for a free brochure.
Works Cited:
1. “Stroke Statistics.” The Internet Stroke Center. < http://www.strokecenter.org/patients/about-stroke/stroke-statistics/ >.
2. Konkel, Lindsey. “5 Ways to Protect Yourself From A Stroke.” Everyday Health. <https://www.everydayhealth.com/stroke/guide/prevention/ >.
