Stroke leaves many serious consequences. So what are the risks of stroke and how to reduce the risk of stroke? Let’s find out through the article below.
1. What is a stroke?
A stroke is an emergency medical condition, consisting of two main types:
- Cerebral infarction: A condition in which an area of the brain is not supplied with blood due to narrowing or blockage of an artery, leading to cerebral ischemia, cerebral hypoxia and brain cell death.
- Cerebral hemorrhage – meningitis: A condition in which a cerebral blood vessel ruptures or subarachnoid hemorrhage, compressing the brain and causing brain cell damage.
2. How to reduce the risk of stroke?
Stroke is a dangerous disease that can cause many complications, sequelae, and even death if not detected and treated promptly. Below are some measures to reduce the risk of stroke.
2.1. Control blood pressure
High blood pressure increases the pressure on the blood vessel wall and this is the leading cause of stroke. Therefore, good blood pressure control is important in preventing stroke and cerebral hemorrhage.
In patients with hypertension, in addition to taking blood pressure lowering drugs as prescribed by the doctor, the patient needs to adjust the amount of salt in meals to no more than 1.5g/day. Avoid foods rich in cholesterol such as cheese, ice cream, hamburgers, etc. Increase green vegetables and fruits every day.
2.2. Control blood lipids
Dyslipidemia is closely related to the risk of stroke. Therefore, blood lipid testing should be performed periodically every 6-12 months in people over 45 years old, including tests: Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-C, HDL-C.
Regarding diet, it is necessary to limit the consumption of cholesterol or saturated fats. A diet rich in green vegetables, fruits, ensuring vitamins and minerals is essential in supporting the regulation of blood lipid disorders. In addition, blood lipid-regulating drugs can be prescribed by doctors to effectively control blood lipids.
2.3. Reasonable physical exercise
A reasonable exercise regimen helps stabilize blood pressure, regulate blood lipid disorders, control weight, improve cardiovascular function as well as improve overall health, thereby reducing the risk of stroke. You can choose exercises at an intensity suitable for each person such as walking, jogging, cycling, exercising, playing golf, tennis, etc.
2.4. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
In addition to a balanced diet and reasonable physical activities, to reduce the risk of stroke, you need to limit alcohol or stimulants. Staying away from tobacco is also one of the measures to prevent stroke.
2.5. Control diabetes
Diabetes increases the risk of stroke, so controlling blood sugar is extremely important. Patients need to follow the doctor’s instructions for treatment, combined with an exercise and diet regimen for diabetic patients to keep blood sugar levels stable.
2.6. Using herbal medicine to prevent stroke
Currently, there are many herbal medicines to prevent stroke circulating on the market. However, experts recommend that the enzyme extracted from soybeans (Nattokinase) with fibrinolytic activity is the best choice to reduce the risk of forming and dissolving blood clots, reduce the risk of stroke, cerebral infarction, angina due to embolism and support recovery after stroke due to embolism.
Nattokinase is a fermented product of soybeans, a traditional dish in Japan for thousands of years with fibrinolytic properties. The US National Science Foundation has conducted research and evaluated the safety of Nattokinase. Nattokinase is undergoing clinical trials (Phase II) in the United States in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
In short, stroke is a dangerous disease and can occur at any age. Stroke can leave many complications and sequelae that affect the patient’s life if not detected and treated promptly. A reasonable diet, a healthy lifestyle, and good control of underlying diseases will help you reduce the risk of stroke.
