Prevent a stroke, add 12.5 years to your life

A stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Approximately 10-15 per cent of stroke sufferers die within a year of having a stroke. It has been estimated that a stroke decreases a stroke survivor’s life expectancy by 12.5 years. It is among the top three causes of death in most countries throughout the world. Preventing a stroke prolongs your life. Here are the main ways you can prevent a stroke and add healthy, happy years to your life.

Maintain a stroke fighting diet
It is not as hard to maintain a stroke fighting diet as you might think. You do not need to swear off fats, carbs, desserts, salt or any of your favourite things.

Balance is the key. Your diet has a huge impact on your stroke risk. High blood cholesterol levels can increase your risk of stroke by predisposing you to blood clots. Excess salt can cause high blood pressure in predisposed individuals, and if you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, excess salt can exacerbate that. In addition, some great super foods like fish, nuts, mushrooms, soy and even wine can help reduce your likelihood of having a stroke.

Physical exercise
Physical exercise has been proven to help reduce your risk of stroke by promoting natural anti-inflammatory and cholesterol lowering activity in your body. Even moderate exercise is effective in reducing stroke. The great news about exercise is that you have so many choices that you can enjoy as part of your regular routine without even thinking about exercising.

Maintain a healthy weight
Obesity has been shown to increase the risk of stroke. A diet that is moderate on calories combined with an active lifestyle can help most people maintain a healthy weight. However, for those who have a hereditary predisposition to excess weight, medical intervention might be necessary.

Mental exercise
Studies show that building up extra brain reserve can help prevent a stroke by improving brain circulation and can help minimise the effects of a stroke. Mental challenges like reading about your health or playing video games can easily build your cognitive capacity.

Reduce your anxiety level
Anxiety produces harmful effects on your body. One of these is oxidative stress, which can produce free radicals, which damage delicate brain cells before and after a stroke. Additionally, stress exacerbates the severity of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular disease, all of which lead to stroke. Learn how to relax so you can avoid the harmful effects of stress that can contribute to a stroke.

Get regular check ups
Most of the major contributors to a stroke can be easily diagnosed with a regular medical checkup and can be effectively managed, offsetting a stroke and ultimately saving your life.

Learn to recognise the symptoms of a stroke
A stroke can be subtle or strange. Learn more about what a stroke means so that you can take action to prevent a stroke if you ever experience a TIA (Transient Ischaemic Attack), which is a stroke warning sign. Learn to recognise the signs of a stroke so that you can get help immediately and increase your chances of survival.