A stroke is an injury to the brain that makes it difficult to control part of your body such as an arm or leg. A stroke may also affect your ability to speak or comprehend spoken words. Strokes are usually caused when there is a sudden loss of blood flowing into the brain. This happens because blood vessels somewhere in the body or the brain are damaged. Strokes are most common in people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease.
Identifying and treating stroke can reduce the chances of having another stroke. Proper treatment also decreases the risk of heart attack and other complications. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and uncontrolled diabetes are common causes for having another stroke after you have had one stroke. These same conditions also place you at a higher risk for having a heart attack. Therefore, it is very important to treat and control all of these conditions.
Talk to your doctor to find out which medicines to prevent heart attack and stroke might be right for you. Your doctor may suggest some lab tests to be sure that these medicines are working well for you.
Along with medications, some lifestyle choices will help to decrease your risk of having a heart attack or having another stroke. These choices also help with controlling your cholesterol, lowering your blood pressure and managing your diabetes. It is important to:
• Quit smoking if you smoke
• Choose a variety of nutritious foods low in fat and salt
• Be physically active for at least 30 minutes most days
• Keep your weight at a healthy level
Your doctor may recommend other lifestyle changes that are right for you.
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