Stroke is caused by cerebral blood vessels narrowing, blockage, or rupture, resulting in insufficient oxygen supply to the brain, leading to brain ischemia. When the brain lacks blood, brain cells are damaged, causing loss of brain function and resulting in hemiparesis, paralysis, or severe cases leading to death if not treated promptly. We know that those at risk of stroke have several factors, including unavoidable factors such as:
- Increasing age: Blood vessels throughout the body deteriorate with age.
- Ethnicity: Statistics show that Black ethnic groups have a higher incidence of stroke than White ethnic groups.
- Individuals born into families with a history of stroke have a higher risk than the general population.
However, there are many other equally important factors that we can avoid simply by changing our behavior.
Stroke: Avoidable Risk Factors
Dr. Sippanont Samchai, a neurologist at Phyathai Sriracha Hospital, has mentioned risk factors that we can prevent and avoid, both by ourselves and through medical care, including the following behaviors:
- Managing existing diseases or conditions
- High blood pressure: A major risk factor. Patients with high blood pressure should take medication as prescribed and modify behaviors as advised by their doctor to bring blood pressure back to normal levels.
- Diabetes: Patients with diabetes or high blood sugar levels can develop widespread vascular hardening. Therefore, blood sugar levels should be controlled within normal limits, and medication should be taken as recommended by the doctor.
- High blood lipids: Medically, high cholesterol levels are associated with ischemic stroke. Those with high blood lipid levels should adjust their diet, exercise, and take medication correctly and on time.
- Heart disease: Especially heart diseases that can cause blood clots to dislodge from the heart and block cerebral vessels, including atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, etc.
- Diet
- Reduce intake of foods high in saturated fats as they increase blood cholesterol levels, leading to hardening and narrowing of arterial walls.
- Reduce foods with excessive sugar content as they provide high energy, leading to overweight. High blood sugar causes diabetes, which hardens arterial walls and can cause cerebral vessel blockage.
- Reduce salty foods, seasoning powders, canned or processed foods as they are linked to high blood pressure, which contributes to ischemic stroke.
- Eat a balanced diet with all five food groups in appropriate proportions. Choose unrefined rice and grains, increase vegetable intake in each meal, and select fruits high in fiber and low in sugar to control blood lipid and sugar levels within normal ranges.
- Choose fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids because Omega-3 is a precursor to eicosanoids, which help inhibit platelet aggregation, thus preventing blood vessel blockage and promoting vasodilation, improving blood circulation and helping prevent ischemic stroke.
- Exercise: Lack of exercise or insufficient exercise increases the risk of stroke compared to those who exercise regularly. It is recommended to do aerobic exercise 3-4 times a week, at least 30 minutes per session. Those who have not exercised for a long time should have a health check and consult a doctor before resuming exercise, especially the elderly.
- Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke: Heavy smokers have a higher risk of stroke than non-smokers.
- Alcohol consumption: Increases the risk of stroke compared to normal individuals.
- Rest and sleep: Insufficient rest and sleep increase the risk of various diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, which in turn increase the risk of stroke. Therefore, adequate rest should be ensured.
- Stress: Affects blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke.
Knowing these factors and behaviors that we can apply to reduce the risk of stroke, we should start practicing them consistently. This not only reduces the risk of stroke but also improves overall health, decreasing the likelihood of other diseases.
