Picture this: You’re enjoying your golden years, reliving the good old days, and cherishing precious moments with loved ones. Suddenly, a stroke strikes, turning your world upside down. Sounds terrifying, right? Well, knowledge is power, folks, and today we’re here to arm you with some crucial information to help you avoid this health scare.
A stroke is a medical emergency that occurs when the supply of blood to your brain is disrupted. Blood is transported to the brain by blood vessels known as arteries. This blood is made up of oxygen and essential nutrients needed by your brain cells. Blood may stop moving through an artery because the artery is blocked or bursts. When brain cells no longer receive blood as usual, they begin to die.
Brain cells usually die shortly after the stroke begins. However, some can last just for a few hours if the blood supply is not stopped completely. If the blood supply can be returned in the minutes and hours after the stroke, some of these cells may work effectively again. If not, they will also die.
The Most Common Symptoms of a Stroke Include:
In your own interest, kindly visit your doctor when these symptoms are noticed. The doctor can help save your life from the menace of stroke.
Your wrong choice of diet contributes to what makes you fall victim to stroke. Certain things, when consumed beyond moderation, can trigger your risk for stroke and possibly other diseases. So, let’s dive into the top three culprits you need to watch out for.
1. Avoid Excessive Smoking
We get it – that cigarette might look tempting in those stressful moments. But here’s the deal: Smoking accelerates clot formation in a couple of different ways. It thickens your blood and increases the amount of plaque buildup in the arteries. Along with a healthy diet and regular exercise, smoking cessation is one of the most powerful lifestyle changes that will help you reduce your stroke risk significantly.
2. Avoid Drinking Excessive Amounts of Alcohol
Most people have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives. Drinking alcohol at moderate levels has been revealed to be good for one’s health, but binge drinking can have severe negative consequences on your health.
Studies show that if you have about one drink per day, your risk may be lower. Once you start drinking more than two drinks per day, your risk goes up very sharply.
Alcohol, especially alcohol abuse, can significantly affect your risk of stroke. In fact, a recent study has shown that drinking one to two bottles of alcohol per day can make your risk of stroke rise by 10% to 15%. Additional four or more drinks can also aggravate your risk of stroke by up to 35%.
3. Avoid Excessive Intake of Red Meat
Regular consumption of red meat can significantly increase your risk for stroke. Eating more than two red meat servings every day had a 28% higher risk of stroke than those who eat about one-third of a serving per day. It is advisable to substitute other proteins, like nuts or fish, for one daily serving of red meat as it can reduce your stroke risk.
So, listen up: kindly reduce your red meat intake, and you can totally stop drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes for your own good. Because, when it comes to protecting your health, why compromise?
Remember, a healthy lifestyle will not only make you feel better but will also add years to your life. So why wait? Make those small changes today. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow!
