• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
    • Clinical Trials Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Health Conditions / Stroke / 10 Ways to Protect Your Brain

10 Ways to Protect Your Brain

how to protect your brain

There is no time like the present. How we treat our brain now will ultimately determine how well it ages and whether or not we are at risk for dementia or stroke. So how do protect your brain from cognitive decline, you may ask? Well, one of the best ways to cut your risk is through lifestyle changes.

Two University of Michigan neurologists offer 10 tips for modifying those risks.

1. Keep blood pressure in check.

Dr. Judith Heidebrink, a neurologist who is co-leader of the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center’s Clinical Core, recommends aiming for a systolic blood pressure (the upper number) of 130 mm Hg or lower from around age 40. This helps reduce the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, heart attack and stroke.

2. Guard your hearing.

Wear ear protection around excessive noise to reduce the risk of hearing loss, center director Dr. Henry Paulson urged. Use hearing aids, if needed. A recent study found that older adults who got a hearing aid for their newly diagnosed hearing loss had a lower risk of dementia in the following three years, he pointed out.

You May Also Like
13 Signs You Need to See a Dermatologist

RELATED: 5 Lifestyle Changes You Can Make to Improve Your Brain Health

3. Support efforts to reduce air pollution.

“There is growing evidence linking air pollution — such as the gases and small particles emitted by cars and factories — to cognitive decline and dementia,” Heidebrink shares. “Encouragingly, sustained improvements in air quality appear to reduce the risk of dementia.”

4. Prevent head injuries.

Wear proper gear when playing contact sports, including a helmet while biking. Don’t forget to use a seat belt in cars. Head injury can disrupt normal brain function. See a doctor right away if you think you have a concussion or traumatic brain injury.

5. Don’t smoke or drink to excess.

If you do smoke, quit, even if it’s later in life. And limit alcohol use. “It has long been known that alcohol misuse is associated with damage to the brain and an increased risk of dementia,” Heidebrink adds. “Limiting alcohol consumption to one drink per day appears safest.”

6. Stay mentally engaged.

Find something you enjoy, whether that’s taking a class locally or online, challenging your mind with puzzles and games, or starting a new hobby.

You May Also Like
7 Proven Ways to Cure an Upset Stomach

7. Socialize.

Keeping up with friends and family is also helpful, Paulson says. Be social or choose a social activity that is

Continue Reading

The Latest In Stroke

how to identify a stroke

Using Your Senses To Identify A Stroke

Our senses can help us out when danger is near. Take for example when we hear someone call for help or smell something that is on fire. But did you know our senses can also help us identify a stroke? read more about Using Your Senses To Identify A Stroke
stroke

California Man Didn’t Know He Was Living With a ‘Ticking Time Bomb’

Richard Horton woke up one morning needing to use the bathroom. He got out of bed, took a couple of steps, and stumbled into the wall. The 55-year-old insurance broker told his then-wife, Bridgette Horton, he thought he might be read more about California Man Didn’t Know He Was Living With a ‘Ticking Time Bomb’
signs of a stroke

5 Signs You’ve Already Had A Stroke and Didn’t Know It

You may have heard about the tell-tale signs of a stroke - slurred speech, loss of balance, trouble speaking, and more - but did you know you can have a stroke without knowing it? This condition is called a silent read more about 5 Signs You’ve Already Had A Stroke and Didn’t Know It
Sinbad

Sinbad Recovers From His Ischemic Stroke: “I Will Not Stop Fighting Until I Walk Across The Stage”

Staying in shape and being in good health are two of the most things to living a long life. Additionally, it helps to have a positive attitude, especially when faced with a challenging circumstance. For famous comedian Sinbad, looking toward read more about Sinbad Recovers From His Ischemic Stroke: “I Will Not Stop Fighting Until I Walk Across The Stage”
cardiovascular disease

Stroke Survivor: “I Don’t Remember The First 3 Years Of My Son’s Life”

Oftentimes, when we lose a family member to a disease, it inspires our own health journey. That was the case for Leslie Jordan, whose family is full of doctors and nurses. She learned about heart disease at a young age read more about Stroke Survivor: “I Don’t Remember The First 3 Years Of My Son’s Life”
aphasia

At a Loss For Words: 4 Tips For Overcoming Aphasia

Have you ever asked for a "thingamajig" when you really meant a screwdriver? Have you ever misread a word on a street sign as you drove past? Of course. Everybody has language glitches every now and then. Now try to read more about At a Loss For Words: 4 Tips For Overcoming Aphasia

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries
  • Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No FilterTracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter
  • Like Father, Like Son: ‘Miami Vice’ Star’s Son Handsome Like his DaddyLike Father, Like Son: 'Miami Vice' Star's Son Handsome Like his Daddy
  • 7 Foods That Replenish Your Liver 7 Foods That Replenish Your Liver
  • Mo’Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: “I Love Us For Real”Mo'Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: "I Love Us For Real"

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2023, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.