How to prevent stroke

Since TIAs don't last very long, there's not much to do to treat its symptoms. They may be mostly gone by the time the ambulance arrives. The focus is on how to prevent another The first line of defense is typically medicine that helps prevent clots from forming. In some cases, you may also need surgery. From there, it's all about making changes for a healthier lifestyle. Medications That Help Prevent TIAs Which medicine you might need depends on where the clot occurred, how serious it was, and what caused it. Antiplatelets. Platelets are a type of With a TIA or The most common antiplatelet is As far as prescription drugs go, the two most common ones are: • • If you take antiplatelets, be careful if you get cut because you may bleed more than usual. Another common side effect is Your body has certain proteins that combine with platelets to make If you only need an anticoagulant for the short term, you might get one called • • • • • Like antiplatelets, these meds can increase your risk of bleeding. Depending on which drug you take, you may need regular tests to make sure you get just the right dose to prevent a Medicines for other conditions. When your doctor runs tests after a TIA, you might learn that you have another health problem that raises your stroke risk. If so, you may get drugs to help manage those conditions. For example, you might get antihypertensives to Surgery If one of the carotid Another choice is a procedure called carotid Lifestyle Changes You may need t...

• Healthy Living • • • • • • • • • Health Topics • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Professionals • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • About Us • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Get Involved • • • • • • • • Ways To Give • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • CPR • • • • • • • • • • • How can you live a longer, healthier life? These eight key factors can help you lower your risk of heart attack and stroke if you’ve never had one. They’re part of an overall healthy lifestyle for adults. And they can help you build a powerful prevention plan with your health care team (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, registered dietitians, and other professionals). 1. Know your risk. If you’re between 40 and 75 years old and have never had a heart attack or stroke, use our TM to estimate your risk of having a cardiovascular event in the next 10 years. Certain factors can increase your risk, such as smoking, kidney disease or a family history of early heart disease. Knowing your risk factors can help you and your health care team decide on the best treatment plan for you. Many risk factors can be improved with lifestyle changes. 2. Eat a healthy diet. Center your eating plan around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins and fish. Make smart choices like limiting refined carbohydrates, processed meats and sweetened drinks. Use the 3. Be physically active. Move more – it’s one of the best ways to stay healthy, prevent disease ...

Melissa with her mom and some of the therapists who helped her recover after her stroke. A stroke can happen to anyone of any age. Two days before she turned 31, Melissa was on a film set working as camera assistant when she felt her whole body go numb. The follow focus mechanism slipped from her right hand as her grip weakened. She caught the unit just before it hit the ground – managing to save her equipment and the shot. Over the next three hours, she strained to ignore the numbness as she powered through the rest of her workday. As soon as the shoot wrapped, she went straight to a local emergency room for evaluation. After several hours of observation, Melissa was surprisingly sent home to rest. She was instructed to “take it easy” for a few days and was disappointed that she had to cancel a planned camping trip with friends to celebrate her birthday. Over the next two days, Melissa’s symptoms would come and go. On April 4, the day of her birthday, her friend accompanied her to the mall for a light stroll and some fresh air, hoping that the change of scenery might ease her anxiety about the situation. While at the mall, Melissa lost strength and feeling in the right side of her body. Her friend held her up as they waited for the episode to pass. The numbness subsided after a brief rest, but the episodes would continue throughout the night. By the following morning, Melissa was nearly paralyzed. She used the voice-activation feature on her phone to call for help, then c...

• Physical exam and tests. Your provider will perform a physical exam and a neurological exam. The provider will test your vision, eye movements, speech and language, strength, reflexes, and sensory system. Your provider may use a stethoscope to listen to the carotid artery in your neck. A whooshing sound (bruit) may indicate atherosclerosis. Or your provider may use an ophthalmoscope to look for cholesterol fragments or platelet fragments (emboli) in the tiny blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye. Your provider may check for risk factors of a stroke, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and in some cases high levels of the amino acid homocysteine. • Carotid ultrasonography. If your provider suspects that the carotid artery may be the cause of your TIA, a carotid ultrasound may be considered. A wand-like device (transducer) sends high-frequency sound waves into the neck. After the sound waves pass through the tissue and back, your provider can analyze images on a screen to look for narrowing or clotting in the carotid arteries. • Computerized tomography (CT) or computerized tomography angiography (CTA) scanning. CT scanning of the head uses X-ray beams to assemble a composite 3D look at the brain or evaluate the arteries in the neck and brain. CTA scanning uses X-rays similar to a standard CT scan but may also involve injection of a contrast material into a blood vessel. Unlike a carotid ultrasound, a CTA scan can evaluate blood ves...

1. Leafy greens When you eat leafy greens, your body converts the nitrates into A 2. Walnuts Walnuts are a good source of In addition, walnuts are rich in 3. Citrus fruits Citrus fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including A 4. Fatty and lean fish Fatty fish such as salmon, fresh tuna, and mackerel are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce the risk of stroke by improving blood flow and reducing inflammation. Lean fish, such as snapper, mahi-mahi, and cod, have lower levels of omega-3s, but they may have other nutrients that are helpful for preventing stroke. For instance, lean fish contain higher amounts of protein, iodine, and selenium, as well as fewer calories, which can be beneficial to human health. A A 5. Yogurt Yogurt is a good source of several nutrients important for A Stroke is linked to diet in several ways. A diet high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium can contribute to the development of risk factors for stroke, such as In contrast, consuming a diet high in foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and protective plant compounds can help reduce these risk factors and promote overall cardiovascular health, which can lower the chance of stroke. Several foods can increase the risk of stroke when consumed in excess. These • Processed meats: Consuming large amounts of processed meats, such as hot dogs and chicken nuggets, • Sugary drinks and foods: Consuming sugary drinks, such as soda and sports drinks, as well as foods h...

Share on Pinterest FG Trade/Getty Images A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sometimes called a “ministroke.” It shares many of the same symptoms as a full-blown stroke, but the symptoms of a TIA are brief, lasting anywhere from a few minutes Although a TIA doesn’t usually lead to lasting disability or changes in your brain function, it can be a warning sign of a more serious stroke. You may be able to reduce your risk of a stroke in the future by treating underlying conditions and making some lifestyle changes. This article will take a closer look at the steps you can take to help prevent a more serious stroke down the road if you’ve had a TIA. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an estimated The timeframe of a stroke after a TIA is unclear. According to a Although a TIA usually doesn’t cause complications, it’s important to get immediate medical attention, even if your symptoms only last for a few minutes. By understanding what caused a TIA, you can take steps to help prevent a future stroke. Medical professionals may use a High blood pressure (hypertension) is a A Lowering your blood pressure may also require: • Maintaining a moderate weight: Work with a healthcare team to determine a moderate weight for you and what you can do to reach and maintain that weight. • Getting good quality sleep: Prioritize your sleep and aim for at least 7–9 hours of sleep each night. If conditions such as • Managing stress in healthy ways: Try relaxat...

Updated recommendations can help people who have had a stroke or TIA lessen their chances of another "brain attack." A first stroke often sneaks up unexpectedly. But for stroke survivors, the probability of a subsequent clot or brain bleed looms large. Nearly a quarter of the 795,000 annual strokes in the United States are recurrences. Likewise, about a third of people who experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a mini-stroke, can go on to have a major stroke within a year. Promise of post-stroke prevention In recognition of the lifesaving potential in lowering the chances of recurrent stroke, the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association in May 2014 released an updated version of their stroke and TIA prevention guidelines. "The new version provides much clearer guidance for health care providers and addresses many situations that were previously left unspecified," says Dr. Lee Schwamm, a professor of neurology and co-director of the Institute for Heart, Vascular and Stroke Care at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Inside the new guidelines Fresh research and refined clinical understanding garnered in the three years since publication of the original document in 2011 spawned more than 50 new recommendations as well as scores of updates to existing standards. Among the highlights is a new approach to blood pressure management that targets a level below 140/90 mm Hg in previously untreated patients, which should begin ...

It's never too late to strike out against a potentially devastating brain attack. Like close cousins, heart disease and stroke share a common lineage. Both emerge from a mix of nature (genes), nurture (upbringing and environment), and personal choice (smoking, exercise, etc). For most of us, personal choice largely determines whether a stroke lies ahead. Guidelines on the prevention of stroke suggest that a healthy lifestyle can cut the risk of having one by 80%. No drug, device, or other intervention can come close to doing that.