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Stroke is a devastating loss of blood flow and oxygen to the brain that kills someone in the United States every three minutes and 11 seconds. Each year, almost 800,000 people in the US have a stroke, which can rob you of your independence — or your life.
As with most health conditions, strokes are rarely inevitable. Even if stroke runs in your family, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer this crippling and potentially deadly condition. Your lifestyle habits can either increase — or decrease — your risk for stroke.
Our team of knowledgeable and expert neurologists at Advanced Medical Care diagnose and treat stroke to increase your odds of recovery. However, it’s better if you don’t need to visit our offices in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, for stroke care. We want to help you prevent a stroke.
How can you change your lifestyle habits to reduce your risk of stroke? Here are a few tips.
A sedentary lifestyle increases your risk for a large array of medical conditions and diseases, including stroke. Even if you think you hate exercise, the first and most important step you can take to improve your cardiovascular health and reduce your risk for stroke is to get moving.
Start where you are, with activities you already enjoy or can easily do. Some examples include:
If that feels like too much all at once, just find ways to break up your days into movement “snacks.” Just 5-10 minutes of stretching, walking, and taking a break from sitting every hour or so can add a lot more movement into your life and help you achieve the recommended daily or weekly dose of exercise.
If comfort foods mean things like a quick trip to a fast-food restaurant, a bag of chips, or fried chicken, it’s time to open up your menu and your palate. It’s best to ditch ultra-processed foods and food items that are laden with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and find new, whole foods that are flavorful and delicious.
Shop the outer aisle of the grocery stores, where the fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats are stored. Find local ethnic shops that have unusual spices and herbs that can tickle your palate.
You might consider signing up for a cooking class that’s geared toward fresh, healthy foods. Or, check out some cookbooks from the library that are filled with healthy recipes such as those from the DASH diet, Mediterranean diet, or healthy Asian cuisine.
Obesity and being overweight are big risk factors for stroke. When you exercise more, cut out ultra-processed foods, and eat more whole foods, you may find that you lose weight naturally.
If you still struggle with your weight, let us know. We can refer you for medical weight loss.
Disordered sleep breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea, increases your risk for stroke. If you don’t feel rested at night, or if you have trouble falling or staying asleep, take advantage of our sleep medicine services and contact us for a sleep evaluation.
Alcohol and smoking increase your risk for stroke and other life-threatening conditions, including many types of cancer. Although most health recommendations are a little lax when it comes to alcohol, to prevent stroke, cut it out entirely.
The World Health Organization recently stipulated that there’s no safe amount of alcohol. Even light drinking raises your risk of cancer and stroke.
If you think that you or someone else is experiencing a stroke, call 911 and get to the emergency room right away. The earlier you get treatment for a stroke, the better the odds of containing the damage. Remember the acronym FAST to recognize and respond to stroke:
Our team can help you take steps to lower your risk of stroke or provide treatment if you’ve suffered a stroke. Contact Advanced Medical Care by phone or online for a neurology consultation today.