Every 45 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke. Strokes are a leading cause of death, claiming approximately 160,000 lives annually, with women disproportionately affected. Recognizing and managing stroke risk factors, as well as knowing the symptoms, is crucial for prevention and minimizing long-term complications.
Key risk factors include:
* **High Blood Pressure:** Often called the “silent killer”, high blood pressure is the leading controllable risk factor for stroke. Family history, obesity, birth control pills, and menopause can contribute to elevated blood pressure. Lifestyle changes and medication can help manage it.
* **High Cholesterol:** High levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol increase stroke risk, while high levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol can lower it. After age 45, women tend to have higher cholesterol levels than men, and low HDL appears to be a stronger risk factor for women.
* **Diabetes:** Diabetes elevates blood pressure and impairs clot breakdown, increasing the risk of ischemic stroke. Managing diabetes through lifestyle and medication is essential.
* **Unhealthy Diet and Inactivity:** Regular physical activity (at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily) helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease, controlling cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and blood pressure. A healthy diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium is also crucial. Excess body fat, especially around the waist, increases stroke risk.
* **Smoking and Excessive Alcohol:** Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke significantly elevate stroke risk. Excessive alcohol intake can also contribute to high blood pressure.
**Recognizing Stroke Symptoms is Critical:** Immediate medical attention is vital to minimize long-term effects. Remember the acronym **FAST**:
* **Face:** Is one side of the face drooping?
* **Arms:** Can the person raise both arms equally?
* **Speech:** Is the person’s speech slurred or difficult to understand?
* **Time:** If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately.
Other symptoms include sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), confusion, trouble seeing, difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or a sudden severe headache.