A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or becomes clogged. The affected part of the brain does not get the necessary blood, and within a few minutes, it begins to die.
If you have a stroke, you may die, remain paralyzed, or have difficulty speaking or understanding speech. And you can damage your eyesight. You may also lose emotional control or fall into it depression. Each stroke causes unique effects.
If you notice warning signs of a stroke, don’t wait. Call the emergency number or anyone to immediately take you to the nearest hospital. Every second count!
What can I do to prevent a stroke?
Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the third most common cause of death in the United States. It is a fatal disease, and it is essential to minimize that risk.
Aging, male, then African-American, Hispanic or Asian, diabetes, a history of stroke, or a family history of stroke increase stroke risk. These are factors you can’t influence.
But you can influence the following factors: high blood pressure, heart disease, minor strokes (transient ischemic attacks, TIA), smoking, and high red blood cell counts. High blood pressure is particularly pronounced among African-Americans. In blacks, high blood pressure occurs earlier than in whites and usually takes a more severe form. Blacks also have almost double the rate of fatal stroke.
Regardless of your race, it’s important to check your blood pressure – and treat it if it’s high.
What is high blood pressure?
When your blood pressure is checked, your doctor measures two values. The first number (systolic pressure) indicates your arteries’ pressure during heart House. The second number (diastolic pressure) indicates the pressure as the heart rests between beats.
Normal blood pressure is in a certain range; numbers do not specify it. However, it should be less than 140/90 in adults. If your blood pressure rises above this limit and stays at that value, you have high blood pressure.
“If I had at least gone to the doctor to check my blood pressure, he would have prescribed me a drug to regulate high blood pressure … Maybe then I wouldn’t have had a stroke.”
What causes high blood pressure?
In 90 to 95 percent of cases, the cause is unknown. In fact, you can have it for years without even knowing it. That is why it is an insidious cause – it simply arises quietly, without warning. There is some other underlying problem in the remaining cases, such as a kidney disorder, an adrenal tumor, or a congenital heart defect.
Why is high blood pressure harmful?
It is dangerous because you may already damage your body’s organs by the time you find out you have it. Compared to people who regulate their high blood pressure, you are seven times more likely to have a stroke; the probability of congestive heart disease is six times higher. The probability of coronary heart disease (which leads to a heart attack) is three times higher.
“Basically, high blood pressure is harmful because it puts extra strain on your heart and damages your arteries. And that’s by no means healthy.”
Tips on how to live with it?
There is only one sure way to find out if you have high blood pressure: go check it out! If you have normal blood pressure, you should check it every two years. If your blood pressure is close to the upper limit of normal or high blood pressure in your family history, you are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. Your doctor will tell you how often you need to measure it.
Measuring blood pressure is quick and painless.
You can do this in a doctor’s office, hospital clinic, school, nurse’s room, in the clinic of your company, or public on the occasion of health actions if the appropriate equipment is available. You can also contact the Red Cross or a hospital.
What else can I do to reduce the risk of stroke?
- If you smoke, quit now!
- Smoking significantly increases the risk of stroke.
- Recognize and treat diabetes.
- If you have diabetes, never stop taking your medication without first talking to your doctor.
- Don’t drink too much alcohol.
- More than one drink a day can raise blood pressure.
- Engage in physical activity.
Physical activity helps reduce the risk of heart disease, a risk factor for stroke.
Try to do moderate to heavy activities for 30 minutes at least 3-4 times a week.
Eat healthily.
Eat foods that are low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
You go for regular medical checkups.
Instead of a conclusion
Reduce the risk of disability or death from stroke: CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE TODAY!
“High blood pressure and this stroke didn’t just sneak up on me like that. It found my whole family unprepared. Now they’re taking care of me.”
If your doctor tells you that you have high blood pressure (hypertension), it is important to know the following:
- You can’t ignore high blood pressure; he will not disappear.
- He can be treated.
- Treating high blood pressure can prevent heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
