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Healthy Lifestyle Cuts Stroke Risk in Women
A healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, no smoking, moderate alcohol consumption, and a healthy diet can help cut a woman's stroke risk, according to a report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
About 700,000 strokes occur each year in the US, about one-fourth of which are fatal and an additional one-fourth of which leave patients permanently disabled, say experts.
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, the more common type, in which a blocked artery causes a lack of blood flow to the brain, and hemorrhagic, which occurs when a ruptured blood vessel causes blood to leak into the brain.
Several individual risk factors, including smoking, exercise, and body mass index (BMI), have been linked to stroke.
However, in contrast to studies assessing risk for heart disease and diabetes, researchers have not previously examined how the combination of these behaviors may contribute to stroke.
Dr. Tobias Kurth, of Brigham and Women's Hospital, studied the association between healthy lifestyles and stroke risk.
The study began in 1993 with over 37,600 women, age 45 or older, who were asked about their lifestyle habits and given a "health index score" ranging from zero to 20. The higher the score recorded, the more healthy the lifestyle.
Healthy behavior was defined as never smoking, consuming four to 10.5 alcoholic drinks per week, exercising four or more time per week, and having a body mass index (BMI) of less than 22.
In addition, eating a healthy diet that included high levels of cereal fiber, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids, low levels of trans fat and sugary foods, and a high ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat in the diet were considered healthy.
The women were followed for an average of 10 years. Over that time, 450 of the women suffered strokes (356 ischemic, 90 hemorrhagic, and 4 undefined).
The study found that the 4.7 percent of the women in the study with 17 to 20 health index points were at much lower risk of stroke overall and of ischemic stroke, compared women with zero to four health index points.
"Our findings show the importance of healthy behaviors in the prevention of total and ischemic stroke," the study authors conclude.
Living a healthier lifestyle can help to prevent stroke and heart disease. This includes eliminating all tobacco products, adhering to a heart-healthy diet, and following an appropriate exercise program.
A person should be aware that all tobacco products are included as risk factors for chronic illness, not just cigarettes.
And, although there may be medical uses from derivatives of some social drugs, such as alcohol, there is no therapeutic use for nicotine.
As soon as a person stops smoking, the body begins to heal itself from the devastating effects of tobacco.
One aspect of managing your stroke and heart attack risk factors includes eating a heart-healthy diet, including appropriate levels of calories, cholesterol, fat, fiber, and sodium.
To try and eliminate any confusion, the federal government has established a food pyramid and food labeling laws. The food pyramid describes how to eat a variety of foods while encouraging the right amount of calories and fat.
One vital step toward reducing chances of having a heart attack is making the time to exercise. Today, with our fast-paced society, people must schedule time to exercise.
One can choose an activity that is enjoyable, and then talk with a physician about an exercise plan that meets individual capabilities and needs.
An exercise program will help in the management of almost all stroke and heart attack risk factors.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommend that a person engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, above usual activity, at work or home on most days of the week.
Regular physical activity will help to promote health, psychological well-being, and a healthy body weight.
Always consult your physician for more information.
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Symptoms may be sudden and include:
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weakness or numbness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
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confusion or difficulty speaking or understanding
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problems with vision such as dimness or loss of vision in one or both eyes
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dizziness or problems with balance or coordination
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problems with movement or walking
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severe headaches with no other known cause
All of the above warning signs may not occur with each stroke.
Do not ignore any of the warning signs, even if they go away - take action immediately. The symptoms of stroke may resemble other medical conditions or problems.
Treatment is most effective when started immediately.
If any of these symptoms are present, call 911 (or your local ambulance service) immediately.
Other, less common, symptoms of stroke may include the following:
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sudden nausea, vomiting, or fever not caused by a viral illness
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brief loss or change of consciousness such as fainting, confusion, seizures, or coma
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transient ischemic attack (TIA), or "mini-stroke"
A TIA can cause many of the same symptoms as a stroke, but TIA symptoms are transient and last for a few minutes to up to 24 hours.
Call for medical help immediately if you suspect a person is having a TIA, as it may be a warning sign that a stroke is about to occur.
Not all strokes, however, are preceded by TIAs.
Stroke is the third largest cause of death, ranking behind diseases of the heart and all forms of cancer.
Strokes kill more than 275,000 Americans each year. Almost every 45 seconds in the United States, a person experiences a stroke. About 4.8 million US adults live today with the effects of a stroke.
Always consult your physician for more information. |
