Stroke affects nearly 800,000 people yearly in the United States and is the fourth leading cause of death. Assistant Professor Dr. Sajjad Mueed, a neurologist at SIU School of Medicine and director of Memorial Medical Center’s Stroke Center, says that while some risk factors are out of the patient’s hands, patients have control over several risk factors. “Taking these risk factors out of your life can reduce the risk of stroke significantly. These risk factors account for 90 percent of strokes,” Dr. Mueed said. Other rare medical conditions may also contribute to stroke risk.
Here are the top 10 risk factors for stroke:
1. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) This a major risk, according to the American Stroke Association Guidelines. This is roughly defined as blood pressures over 140/90 (normal is 120/80). Adopting healthy lifestyle habits to lower blood pressure can go a long way to prevent a stroke.
2. Smoking After high blood pressure, smoking is the single greatest contributor to stroke. Among the many health problems smoking causes, it also contributes to your risk for a stroke.
3. Physical Inactivity You’ve heard it before, but being a couch potato contributes to numerous preventable illnesses, including stroke.
4. Diet You’ve heard this one, too. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is good for your waistline and reduces your risk of stroke. Dr. Mueed recommends lowering sodium intake and increasing potassium intake to lower blood pressure.
5. High Cholesterol (Dylipidemia) If a healthy, low-fat diet does not work, then medication such as statins can lower risk. Ask your doctor.
6. Obesity Since 1980, the prevalence of obesity in adults has doubled. In children, it’s tripled. With obesity comes higher blood pressure (the number one risk factor for stroke). Managing your weight will help lower your risk of stroke (along with diabetes, heart disease, and many others).
7. Diabetes Diabetes increases your risk of vascular diseases (atherosclerosis). People living with diabetes also may have difficulty keeping their blood pressure stable.
8. Atrial Fibrillation An estimated 2.3 million Americans have chronic atrial fibrillation — when a heart beats irregularly, quivering instead of beating. This affects the atria or upper chambers of the heart. Those with sustained or non-sustained AF have a 4-5 times greater risk for stroke. This risk can be significantly reduced with use of strong blood thinners like warfarin (coumadin) and several newer medications.
9. Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis The carotid artery is the large artery you can feel on the side of your neck. Atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque, narrows the carotid artery causing carotid artery stenosis, a common diagnosis. Treatment with anti-hypertensive drugs, anti-platelet drugs (such as aspirin) and statins can decrease stroke risk. With higher degrees of carotid artery stenosis, surgical procedures to open up the artery are beneficial.
10. Abuse of recreational street drugs Studies have shown that recreational street drugs such as cocaine, amphetamines and others are associated with increased risk of stroke and heart attacks.
Many of these preventable risk factors are related to each other. Resources are available to help you take charge of your health. Talk with your doctor about how you can lower your risk of stroke. SIU School of Medicine has numerous programs in place for patients interested in quitting smoking, better diabetes management and weight loss programs. Stop a stroke before it starts.
For more information:
http://www.siuhealthcare.org/Public/ProviderDetails.aspx?pid=327
National Stroke Association
American Stroke Association