 |
The Doctor Is In...
National Stroke Awareness Month
Dr. Jack Smith
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Clinical and Program Policy and Acting Chief Medical Officer, TRICARE Management Activity
|
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. According to the American Heart Association, each year 750,000 Americans have a stroke and nearly 160,000 die from the disease, making it the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in our country. Understanding what a stroke is and knowing the risk factors could save your life.
A stroke occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails. Brain cells can die from the decreased blood flow and the lack of oxygen.
There are a number of risk factors that may increase your likelihood of suffering a stroke. Several risk factors, such as age, gender, race, diabetes and family history of stroke, are beyond your control. Controllable stroke risk factors are generally divided into two categories: medical and lifestyle-related.
Medical Stroke Risk Factors
-
Previous stroke victims are at a high risk for having another.
-
Heart disease, especially an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation , which affects more than 2 million Americans, increases stroke risk four to six times.
-
High blood pressure increases stroke risk four to six times, yet it is the single most important, controllable stroke risk factor. Between 40 percent and 90 percent of all stroke patients had high blood pressure before their stroke.
Lifestyle-related Stroke Risk Factors
-
Smoking doubles the risk of a stroke. Research shows that the risk of stroke for people who have quit smoking for two to five years is lower than people who still smoke.
-
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to multiple medical complications, including stroke.
-
High cholesterol directly and indirectly increases stroke risk by clogging blood vessels and putting people at greater risk of heart disease.
-
Being overweight and not exercising enough can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Talk to your primary care manager (PCM) about your risk factors for a stroke and how to reduce your risk. Ask your doctor for advice on making the appropriate lifestyle changes. Regular checkups are important, as they may allow your doctor to detect and address problems that might increase your risk of suffering a stroke.
Back to Top |
