Stroke Awareness

May is Stroke Awareness Month, and the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association provided this helpful document to show us how to easily recognize the warning signs of a stroke.

Please share this image with everyone you know, it can save a life!

Reduce the Risk of Stroke

Now that you know how to recognize the signs of a stroke, let’s briefly discuss how you can prevent a stroke altogether.

• If you want to do something extremely healthy for your heart that will reduce your chances of getting a stroke, exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Aim to exercise about 30 minutes a day, such as riding a bike, going for a walk, or swimming.

• Eating healthy fat is good for you, and even reduces the risk of stroke. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2002 found that women who ate fish once a week were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or die of heart disease than those who ate fish only once a month.

• A Harvard Study found that those who don’t get enough rest each night have an increased risk of having a stroke. A lack of sleep has been shown to increase stress hormones, raise blood pressure, and affects blood sugar levels, all which are not good for your heart. Researchers also found that sleeping too much (9 hours plus) have a negative effect on your heart health as well, so aim for around 8 hours of sleep each night.

• If you are underweight or overweight, it’s time to take necessary steps to reach a healthier weight.

• Eating more fiber has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. For women, those who consumed 23 grams of fiber per day were 23 percent less likely to have a heart attack compared to those who had only 11 grams of fiber each day. For men, a high fiber diet reduced their risk of a heart attack by 36 percent!

• Go on a Vacation! Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that those who took regular vacations reduced their risk of heart disease by one third. Another reason to take a nice and relaxing vacation, right?

• If you smoke, it’s time to get the help you need to stop smoking ASAP! When you quit smoking, you will lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. There are some encouraging statistics for those who quit smoking…it’s never too late to quit smoking and get your health back on track.

Image Credit: American Heart Association

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