Research: Stop these to avoid strokes 

In this article, the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) will tell you more about strokes, causes, and its preventive measures.

What is a stroke?

A stroke or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced.

Strokes are caused by blocked blood flow to the brain (ischemic stroke) or sudden bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).

Many things raise your risk of stroke but some of these risk factors can be changed to help prevent a stroke or future strokes.

Types of strokes

Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke, also known as cerebral ischemia, occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients.

Causes

Blood clots

About 87% of strokes are ischemic. The blockage in the brain is usually caused by a piece of plaque or a blood clot.

If the blockage occurs locally in the brain, the condition is called thrombosis but if the blood clot travels from somewhere else in the body, it is called an embolism.

Ischemic strokes are classified specifically based on where in the brain the blockage occurs and where in the body an embolism developed. In some cases, the location of the original embolism is not known.

The above illustration shows how an ischemic stroke can occur in the brain. If a blood clot breaks away from plaque buildup in a carotid artery in the neck, it can travel to an artery in the brain.

When plaque (a sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms on your teeth, making them feel fuzzy to the tongue) builds up on the inner walls of the arteries, it can lead to a disease called atherosclerosis.

Plaque hardens and narrows the arteries, limiting blood flow to tissues and organs. Plaque can build up in any artery in the body, including arteries in the brain and neck.

Carotid artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in the carotid arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain. It is a common cause of ischemic stroke.

Blood platelets stick to the site of the plaque injury and clump together to form blood clots. These clots can partly or fully block an artery.

Blood clots leading to stroke can happen when there are other heart and blood conditions, such as atrial fibrillation and sickle cell disease.

MRI studies show that as many as 40% of children with sickle cell disease have had a stroke, even though a medical exam does not show signs of one.

The only treatment for these undetected strokes (also called silent infarcts) is to receive regular blood transfusions.

Inflammation

Chronic (long-term) inflammation contributes to ischemic stroke.

Research shows that inflammation can damage the blood vessels and contribute to atherosclerosis. Ischemic stroke can also lead to inflammation that further damages brain cells.

Hemorrhagic stroke

Hemorrhagic stroke is another type of stroke caused by sudden bleeding. This can happen when an artery in or on top of the brain breaks open.

The leaked blood causes the brain to swell, raising pressure in the brain that can damage brain cells.

There are two types of hemorrhagic stroke: intracranial hemorrhage, or bleeding within the skull, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), or bleeding between the brain and the membrane that surrounds it.

Intracranial hemorrhage occurs in about 10% of stroke cases, and SAH occurs in about 3%.

The illustration shows how a hemorrhagic stroke can occur in the brain. An aneurysm in a cerebral artery breaks open, which causes bleeding in the brain. The pressure of the blood causes brain tissue death.

Stop these to avoid strokes

Stop Smoking: Quitting smoking is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of stroke. Studies show that for every five cigarettes smoked each day, the risk of having a stroke increases by 12%.

Limit Alcohol Consumption:  Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure, so it’s essential to limit your intake. Men should have no more than two drinks per day, and women should have no more than one.

Reduce Sodium Intake: Consuming too much sodium can increase blood pressure, so reduce your sodium intake by limiting processed and packaged foods.

Avoid Physical Inactivity: Regular physical activity can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels.

Aim for at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or 1 hour of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise, per week.

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk of stroke. Calculate your body mass index (BMI) to determine if you’re at a healthy weight.

Manage Stress: High levels of stress can increase your risk of stroke. Engage in stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.

Additionally, working with your healthcare team to control medical conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes is crucial in preventing strokes.

By incorporating these changes into your lifestyle, you’ll be significantly reducing your risk of stroke and improving your overall health.

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