A stroke occurs when a clot or other type of obstruction cuts off blood flow to the brain, or there is bleeding in the brain because of a blood vessel bursting. Strokes are incredibly dangerous because they cause brain damage, disability and may even result in death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 795,000 Americans have strokes every year.
Strokes can occur at any age, but the risk of having one increases with age. Thus, seniors need to take stroke prevention seriously. While seniors can’t change family history or age, they can adhere to the following stroke prevention guidelines to reduce their risk.
1. Follow a Healthy Diet
When it comes to how to prevent a stroke, diet is an essential part of the process. Following a healthy diet and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can make a big difference in reducing your risk. Try to cut down trans and saturated fats in your diet and incorporate more lean protein and fiber into your diet. A healthy diet can also help you lose weight and lower stroke risk.
2. Lower Your Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a significant risk factor for hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Since blood pressure increases with age, this is one of the most critical stroke prevention tips for seniors to follow. Monitor your blood pressure and control it to lower your risk of stroke. Tips on lowering blood pressure include changing your diet, reducing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting destructive habits like smoking.
3. Exercise More
Exercising and being physically active is one of the best ways to live a healthier life. When it comes to stroke prevention, exercise helps with lowering blood pressure and managing a healthy weight and contributes to lowering your risk of stroke on its own. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activity per week.
4. Drink in Moderation
While drinking is fine in moderation, it becomes unhealthy and increases your risk of stroke when you start drinking excessively. Drinking too much can raise your blood pressure, increase triglycerides, and even cause you to experience an irregular heartbeat. Limit your intake to one drink a day if you’re a woman and two drinks a day if you’re a man.
5. Manage Related Health Conditions
Other health issues like diabetes and high cholesterol can also increase your risk of stroke. As per stroke prevention guidelines, you must control high blood sugar to prevent fatty deposits and clots from forming in your blood vessels and lower your cholesterol intake to prevent clogging your arteries.
Part of living a healthier life is ensuring your needs are taken care of and being surrounded by a community of people who care about you. That’s what you get at American Grand. Our assisted living suites improve the quality of your life drastically and ensure your needs are met. Call us at (920) 585-6985 or contact us here to learn more.