Quit alcohol, smoking: 14 pro tips from expert to dodge a stroke

New Delhi: Stroke is cutting off of blood and oxygen supply to the vital structures of the brain this may lead to the development of one-sided paralysis speech disturbances sudden dizziness sudden unconsciousness or loss of vision. This may be due to a blood vessel blockage or rupture of vessels leading to bleeding in the brain. Dr. Vuppu Ravikanth, Consultant – Neuro and Spine Surgeon, Manipal Hospitals, Vijayawada, shared 14 pro tips to dodge a stroke.

The preventive strategies for stroke

1. The strongest risk factor for stroke is by far hypertension. Before the age of 80, the risk of stroke is increased by two to four times due to hypertension. You can prevent diabetes, renal failure, and heart disease by managing your blood pressure.
2. Limit blood bad cholesterol like LDL, VLDL, and serum triglycerides. Increase HDL cholesterol. Prophylactic use of statins in hypercholesterolemia cases.
3. Give up tobacco consumption. Smoking increases the risk of haemorrhagic stroke by up to four times and the risk of ischaemic stroke by approximately two times. It has been connected to atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fat in the carotid artery, which is the major neck artery that supplies blood to the brain. Furthermore, smoking results in nicotine raising blood pressure, carbon monoxide decreasing the quantity of oxygen in blood that can reach the brain, and cigarette smoke thickens and more likely to clot. Smoking also promotes brain aneurysm formation.
4. Heart disease: It can be caused by common cardiac conditions such as coronary artery disease, valve abnormalities, atrial fibrillation, and enlargement of one of the heart’s chambers. One in four strokes after the age of 80 is caused by atrial fibrillation, which is more common in the elderly and is linked to increased mortality and disability. Regular consultation with a cardiologist will prevent this dangerous event.
5. Control diabetes. Keep HbA1c within normal range.
6. Maintain an ideal weight. lowering the waist-to-hip ratio, waist circumference, and body mass index. A target body mass index is below 25 kg/m2, while a target waist circumference is less than 80 cm for women and less than 94 cm for men.
7. Consume a diet abundant in fruits and vegetables. Avoid salted, high carbohydrate, and saturated fat intake in your diet. Consuming antioxidant-rich foods may reduce the incidence of stroke. Dietary intake of antioxidants like – vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, flavonoids, and selenium. In terms of a healthy and balanced diet, fresh fruit, vegetables, dietary and soluble fibre, whole grain, protein from plant sources, dairy products low in saturated fat and cholesterol, as well as daily sodium intake below 2300 mg (the older the patients, the lower the consumption) are recommended.
8. Maintain a regular exercise routine for 30 to 60 minutes of continuous or intermittent aerobic exercises. If intermittent use a minimum of 10 min bouts accumulated to 30 to 60 min /day and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Patients with cardiac diseases are advised to participate in medically supervised exercise programs. Moderate physical activity such as walking, jogging, cycling, and swimming for 30 minutes to 1 hour for 4 to 7 days a week can improve prognosis.
9. Keep alcohol intake moderate or consider abstaining. Alcohol intake should not exceed 2 drinks per day (14 drinks for males and 9 drinks for females weekly).
10. Seek treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
11. Potentially harmful drugs Hormone replacement therapy and oral contraceptives increase the risk of stroke. Thus, such treatments should be avoided in patients with cardiovascular diseases, and oral contraceptives are contraindicated in women aged over 35 years, those who smoke, are obese, or have a history of thromboembolism. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), apart from acetaminophen (paracetamol), can reduce the antiplatelet effect of aspirin. Therefore, NSAIDs should be administered 8 hours before or 30 minutes after aspirin intake. NSAIDs can also increase blood pressure (decrease the efficacy of antihypertensive agents), contribute to endothelial dysfunction, or impair renal function. To net effect can translate into increased cardiovascular risk. Avoid using any illegal substances, this causes the blood pressure to rise.
12. At most careful when aged more than 50 years need regular health check-ups of your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cardiac status, and blood cholesterol levels. Having a first-degree relative with a history of stroke raises your risk of having one by 30%, and the risk was higher if the stroke occurred before age 65 years in the relative. Genetic factors like hypercoagulable states.
13. Avoid psychological stress, lack of social support, and depression.
14. Secondary prevention in known cases of old TIA or stroke by regular use of antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, keeping BP, and sugars under control regular exercises, and keeping in a happy environment. Reaching the hospital within 3 hours of stroke onset.