Many people look at a stroke as a brain problem. In reality it’s a cardiovascular problem that can have deadly consequences. For Americans, stroke is the number one cause of adult disability. Thus, learning how to prevent a stroke will have a positive impact on decreasing its harmful effect on our community.
As pointed out in a previous article, it’s estimated that 750,000 Americans will experience a stroke this year. Of this number, 160,000 will die. The rest will forever have their lives changed in significant and profound ways.
For our African American friends, they are twice as likely to die from a stroke as Caucasians. The rate of having their first stroke is almost doubled. One half of all African American women will die from either a stroke or heart disease. For those with sickle cell anemia, 11% will have experienced a stroke by the age of 20.
All of this is pretty depressing until you understand that, according to the National Stroke Association,
“… 80% of strokes are preventable!”
Everyone is at risk for a stroke but everyone also has the power to reduce this risk. This article will empower you with 11 action steps to help you learn how to prevent a stroke. So, let’s get started.
Risk Factors For Stroke: Uncontrollable vs. Controllable!
There are some uncontrollable risk factors for stroke like: age, gender, race, family history and a previous stroke or TIA. Now, before we examine how to prevent a stroke, I would like to make some observations about two of these uncontrollable risk factors.
- Age. Although you have no control over your chronological age, you do have the ability to reduce your biological age. One of my readers recently shared with me that he has been making some gradual changes in his eating and exercise habits. These changes have resulted in him losing over 10 pounds. He now has greater energy and stamina for his daily work activities as well as his recreational endeavors. Even though his chronological age will keep moving forward, he has begun the process of improving his biological age. Each person has the ability to make positive lifestyle changes that can significantly improve their overall health and wellness while reducing their risk for stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. The key is to concentrate on improving the health of your endothelial cells and their ability to produce nitric oxide.
- Family History. If someone in your family has had a stroke, then you are at a higher risk for a stroke. Part of this could be genetics. Part of your family history could be lifestyle. You have no control over the genetics but you certainly have control over your lifestyle. You have the power to change the eating, drinking, smoking, and lifestyle choices that contributed to your family member’s stroke. The 11 action steps in this article will help you break this cycle.
Even though there are 5 uncontrollable risk factors, the good news is that there are 8 controllable risk factors that give you a high degree of control; control that can help you learn how to prevent a stroke! They are:
- Control High Blood Pressure.
- Control Heart Disease especially Artial Fibrillation.
- Stop Smoking.
- Control Alcohol Consumption.
- Control Your Cholesterol.
- Control Your Diabetes.
- Control Your Weight Through Diet, Exercise, and Nutrition.
- Check for Other Circulatory Problems.
I talk about these 8 controllable risk factors in the article “African Americans and Stroke!” We will also take them up in the following 11 steps.
11 Steps That May Reduce Your Stroke Risk!
These 11 steps will help you learn how to prevent a stroke. Some of these steps will be pretty clear and easy to implement. Others will require you to make a lifestyle choice. It’s our daily choices that end up determining our overall health.
Step 1 – Go See A Qualified Physician. If you do not know what your blood pressure reading is, what your cholesterol level is, or where your blood sugar level is at, then you must get these benchmarks measured as soon as possible. These are the big three in learning how to prevent a stroke. Also, have your physician check your heart and circulatory system especially the carotid arteries.
Step 2 – Make Sure Your Blood Pressure is under 120/80. Anything over 120/80 is of concern and anything over 140/90 is a red flag to take action. It’s the #1 risk factor for a stroke because high blood pressure increases your stroke risk 4-6 times. This makes learning how to control your blood pressure a critical factor in learning how to prevent a stroke.
Step 3 – Make Sure Your Cholesterol Level is under 200. Anything over 200 is of concern and anything over 240 is a red flag to take action.
Step 4 – Make Sure You Are Not A Diabetic. Diabetes is not something to play around with. Not only does it increase your risk for stroke but it also affects so many other organs in your body. Most of the damage is due to oxidative stress on the endothelial cells and the resulting poor blood flow to the organs.
Step 5 – Control Your Weight. If you’re overweight by 30 pounds or more, then you need to make some positive changes in your eating patterns. I’m not talking about going on a diet. Diets don’t work! Most people have dieted their way to their current overweight condition. The article “The Secret to Weight Loss!” can assist you in implementing some simple keys; keys that can make a major impact on your weight and overall health. Additionally, by controlling your weight you can also help lower your blood pressure, lower your cholesterol level, and better control your blood sugar.
Step 6 – Increase Your Fiber Intake! At best the typical American is only getting 50% of the needed fiber in their diet. Proper fiber intake may reduce 3 of the risks for stroke: cholesterol, diabetes, and overweight/obesity. This step is so important that I have prepared a special article entitled, “Fiber and Cholesterol Reduction!” There is also a guide entitled, “Fiber, Cholesterol and Other Heath Benefits!” This guide identifies foods that will add more fiber to your diet. This is an important step in learning how to prevent stroke.
Step 7 – Increase Your Water Intake. Proper water intake is fundamental to good health and proper weight management. Use this simple rule of thumb. You need 8 ounce of water for every 15 pounds of body weight. Coke, coffee, and other doctored beverages don’t count. Only pure water!
Step 8 – Stop Smoking! You know this is a nasty habit. Not only does smoking affect your lungs but it also affects your heart, pulmonary arteries, liver and several other systems. Once you stop smoking, your risk from this activity will drop significantly within two years.
If you’re a woman over 30 who smokes and takes high-estrogen birth-control pills your risk for a stroke is 22 times more likely than the average non-smoker!
Step 9 – Learn STR. Smile, Talk, Raise could save your life and the life of a loved one! I’ve designed a special “Stroke Warning Sign – The STR Poster!” that you can download and print off. Share it with family, friends, and neighbors. Ask your barber, hair stylist, and local merchant to display it in a prominent place for as many as possible to see. Please help educate our entire community. Together our quick response could be the difference between life or death, permanent disability or significant recovery.
Step 10 – Utilize Integrative L-arginine / L-citrulline Supplementation. Your endothelial cells line all of your cardiovascular system. They have a total surface volume equal to approximately 4 tennis courts. They also have a tremendous influence over the health of the cardiovascular system. Unfortunately, your endothelial cells are damaged by oxidative stresses caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high blood sugar levels. This damage reduces their ability to properly produce nitric oxide which is critical to cardiovascular health.
By using a proven L-arginine / L-citrulline supplement you can help prevent and reverse this oxidative stress to the endothelial cells. You can also improve their ability to produce nitric oxide which is the master signaling molecule of the cardiovascular system. This is extremely important for the African American community.
Genetic research has uncovered a significant genetic variance that directly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in many people of African descent. African Americans produce too much of an enzyme called arginase. In the bloodstream, arginase destroys the amino acid L-Arginine so that it’s no longer available for the production of nitric oxide. This can lead to weakened or damaged blood vessels and significantly increase the risk for heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke.
I recommend ProArgi-9 Plus since it has been clinical shown to improve the cardiovascular system and help to heal and reverse the damage to the endothelial cells allowing them to properly produce nitric oxide.
Step 11 – Control Your Alcohol Consumption. For most, moderate drinking doesn’t affect their risk for stroke. “Moderate” drinking means limiting your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day. By definition, a “moderate” drink is 1.5 oz. of hard liquor, 4 oz. of wine, or 12 oz. of beer. However, drinking more than 2 drinks per day may increase your stroke risk by 50%.
I hope these 11 Steps will be a direct benefit in helping you learn how to prevent a stroke. I’ve given you some very specific steps. These steps can start you on the path towards reducing your risk for stroke while improving your overall health and wellness. As you continue to read articles and gain information, you will be learning how to make other positive changes in your life.
Together we can work to save a million lives!