Friday, January 30, 2015

How You Can Prevent a Stroke

Strokes kill more women than men, yet most women may not know their stroke risks. Find out what you can do to avoid a stroke…

Our brains are command centers that dictate countless activities – speaking, eating, walking and even breathing. This all gets disrupted when a stroke cuts blood flow to the brain.

Stroke – a serious, life-altering condition – is the third-leading cause of death in women, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Every year, nearly 800,000 people have a stroke, the CDC reports.

But nearly half of all strokes are preventable, says Carolyn D. Brockington, M.D., a stroke neurologist and director of the Stroke Center at Mount Sinai St. Luke's in New York.

So it's vital you know your risk factors for stroke.

Stroke risk factor #1: High blood pressure/hypertension
High blood pressure, the leading risk factor for stroke in women, weakens blood vessels and can lead to stroke.

But many women don't even know they have high blood pressure, which is why it's sometimes known as a "silent killer," says Koto Ishida, M.D., medical director of NYU Langone Comprehensive Stroke Care Center in New York.

Track your blood pressure numbers. "I tell patients to take their blood pressure once a week at their local drugstore or with their own device," Dr. Ishida says.

If the reading is high, 140/90 mm Hg, work with your doctor to bring it down. Call your doctor immediately if the top number (systolic) is higher than 180 or the bottom number (diastolic) is higher than 110.