Imagine on a Monday your mom hugged you, looked you in the eyes like only a mom can, and told you she loved you. On Tuesday, she can’t remember your name.
Most people have been closely involved or on the sidelines of a stroke drastically changing their world. One’s life before a stroke is gone in a second. The acts of daily living we take for granted become great challenges. Life will not be the same, and significantly more difficult for the patient and their loved ones. Cognitive, emotional and physical deficits interfere with daily living, relationships and safety. The complications and trickle-down consequences are overwhelming. The pain the family members suffer watching, coping and helping their loved one as they struggle to have some quality of life is immense.
Approximately 800,000 people a year have a stroke in the United States. The American Stroke Association estimates 80% of strokes can be prevented. Stroke leads to 160,000 deaths annually. A stroke or cerebrovascular accident is a blockage in the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. The blockage or rupture stops blood and oxygen from getting to the brain. Symptoms include paralysis, numbness or weakness in the arm, face, leg, trouble speaking or understanding, vision changes, dizziness, headache and more.
There are procedures, medications, rehab and other care to help someone after a stroke. Despite all these measures, your mom, dad or other loved one is not the same person they were before the stroke. Preventing strokes is a far better plan than trying to fix the damage after a stroke.
It has been a decade since the American Stroke Association has revised their guidelines for stroke reduction. Their guidelines parallel the American Heart Associations “Life’s Essential 8″ plan which promotes cardiac and brain health. Those “8″ include a focus on diet, sleep, weight, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, reducing stress, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol.
Recommendations include a directive to health care professionals to closely screen for genetic predisposition, medications, comorbidities, drug and alcohol use, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Guidelines are specific to gender and identify social determinants for stroke risk.
The risk factors specific to women include hormone use, high blood pressure in pregnancy, pregnancy complications such as premature birth, endometriosis, premature ovarian failure and early-onset menopause. Gender diverse individuals taking estrogen are also at higher risk of stroke.
Social determinants that affect health are noted as inequities in health care, education, economic stability, structural racism and geographic factors such as the ability to safely walk daily and access to healthy food.
They support newer use of GLP-1 drugs for cardiovascular health, balanced diet, physical activity, maintain a healthy weight and sleep regularly. A Mediterranean diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and heart-healthy fats is the diet of choice. Avoid processed foods, added sugars and refined grains.
Exercise recommendations are at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity spread throughout the week. Along with aerobic, anaerobic exercise, flexibility is also important. Recommended sleep: at least seven hours of sleep a night and no more than nine. Mindfulness and reducing exposure to pollution are promoted. The ASA also calls for increased public awareness and education about lowering stroke risk.
A new addition to the guidelines are GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound and Wegovy. These highly publicized weight loss and diabetes medications have shown evidence in improving cardiovascular health and reduction of stroke risk.
The odds are stacked in your favor, with a statistic of 80% of strokes being preventable. Heed these guidelines in collaboration with your health care provider. Another day, another hug, another “I love you” is in the cards.
Take care of yourself and someone else.
Juanita Carnes is a Westfield resident and a nurse practitioner with 38 years of experience in a hospital emergency department and urgent care facilities. She served 30 years on the Westfield Board of Health.
