Treat Any Circulatory Disorders
Circulatory disorders don’t only affect how blood flows around your body but they can also increase your risk of a stroke. If you have sickle cell disease, anemia, or peripheral artery disease, make sure you’re working with a doctor to treat your condition effectively.
Step Away From The Cigarettes
Smoking causes a multitude of issues with your heart. While nicotine increases blood pressure, carbon monoxide negatively affects how well blood transports oxygen. Cigarette smoke also increases triglyceride levels, decreases good cholesterol, and increases clotting. Keeping cigarettes away is one of the most important ways to stop a stroke.
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Control Your Diabetes
Diabetes can increase the presence of fatty deposits in your body, which then produce clots that narrow the arteries. Narrowed arteries can cause a stroke. If your diabetes is poorly controlled, you could quadruple your risk of a stroke so make sure you’re following your prescribed regimen.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Apart from helping to maintain a healthy weight, a heart-healthy diet is low on salt, processed foods, trans fats, and saturated fats. Focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean proteins and foods that are high in fiber.
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Get Regular Exercise
This is another factor that helps with weight loss but exercising regularly also keeps your heart healthy. You’ll be less likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.
Keep an Eye on Your Cholesterol Level
High cholesterol levels contribute to clogged arteries that lead to having a stroke. Adjusting your diet can go a long way in keeping your cholesterol under control. If the right eating habits don’t make a difference then it’s definitely time to consult with your doctor about possible medical interventions.
Check Out Frequent Snoring
If you’ve started snoring recently or you snore regularly, it could be a sign of sleep apnea. This sleep disorder can stop your breathing several times each night. The interrupted respiration affects oxygen flow and over time, contributes to an increased risk of stroke. The only way to effectively deal with sleep apnea is through a doctor-prescribed treatment program.
While there are risk factors for strokes that you can’t change, the points on this list are manageable. If you take things one step at a time, you can easily cut your risk of a stroke. Doctors also recommend that you keep an eye out for mini-strokes as they can have milder stroke symptoms without the permanent consequences. They are, however, a warning that things could take a turn for the worse soon.
