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Fact - 80% of all strokes may be prevented.

 

Fact - Some stroke risk factors may not be controlled, such as gender, age, family history, previous history of a stroke.

Fact - Other risk factors are lifestyle related and will be covered in detail below. By knowing your risk factors you can lower your risk of secondary stroke.

Secondary Stroke Prevention

Blood Pressure

 If you have high blood pressure it can increase your risk of having a second stroke.  

The pressure in the blood vessels (arteries) depends on how hard the heart pumps and on how much resistance there is in the arteries. A slight narrowing of the arteries increases the resistance to blood flow, which increases the blood pressure.  

A normal blood pressure reading is between 120/80 to 140/90 mmHg.

 

High blood pressure is a blood pressure that is above 140/90 mmHg. Actions to reduce your blood pressure include:

  • Having your  blood pressure  checked regularly by a healthcare  professional

  • Keeping your weight stable  

  • Exercising daily as per your individual regime

  • Reducing  the  salt intake in your diet

  • Eating  a healthy diet low in fat and rich in fibre 

  • Reducing  your alcohol intake

  • Quit smoking

  • Taking  your medication as prescribed 

  • Manage your stress, which will help to keep blood pressure levels low

 

Visit - Irish Heart Foundation

Smoking

Smoking damages your blood vessels. This puts you at risk of having another stroke.  If you smoke the nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes can damage your cardiovascular system.

By smoking you are also at risk of developing blood clots and this increases the amount of plaque buildup in your arteries. The combination of the blood clots and increased plaque increases your risk of having another stroke.

If you quit smoking you can reduce your risk of another stroke.

 

Some tips to support you include:-

  • Quit smoking. If you can’t quit at least try to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke each day.

  • While you are quitting smoking it is important to exercise every day to help keep your blood pressure low enough to reduce your risk of another stroke.

  • While you are quitting smoking follow a healthy diet. You may crave foods rich in sugar and fat which can increase your cholesterol level increasing your risk of having another stroke.

 

Important note:  Your risk of having another stroke goes down dramatically once you quit smoking.

Visit - Quit Smoking Community

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat. It is caused by the heart upper chambers beating incorrectly. This can lead to the blood to pool and a clot forming.

 

If the clot travels to your brain it can cause a stroke.

Atrial fibrillation can be prevented.  You can reduce your risk of atrial fibrillation by:-

  • Eating  a healthy diet

  • Keeping your cholesterol under control

  • Keeping your blood pressure under control

  • Reducing your alcohol intake

  • Quitting  smoking

  • Getting  regular exercise

Atrial Fibrillation can be treated. Medicines called anticoagulants can be used to reduce your risk of a blood clot and so reduce the risk of another stroke. It is important to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.

 

Visit - Irish Heart Foundation

High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is found in your blood. Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by the liver, but it can be absorbed as well from food that we eat.

 

If you have high cholesterol it increases your risk for having another stroke. Large amounts of cholesterol in the blood can build up and cause a blood clots leading to a stroke.

 

You can lower your cholesterol by making sure your diet is healthy and low in saturated fats. If your doctor thinks that you are at risk of having another stroke, you may be prescribed medication to help reduce your cholesterol level.

 

Medication called statins can help you to reduce your cholesterol level.

 

Visit Irish Heart Foundation 

Diabetes

If you have diabetes it is important to keep it well controlled.  Diabetes that is not controlled can increase your risk of having another stroke.

 

You can do this by knowing your blood glucose level – record your blood glucose levels regularly and keep your blood glucose level within normal limits for you as advised by your doctor.

 

Keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol under control and quitting smoking as discussed above.  

 

Healthy lifestyle habits can also help you to control your diabetes:

  • Follow your healthy eating plan

  • Make physical activity part of your daily routine

  • Have  a healthy weight

  • Take your oral hypoglycemic medication or insulin therapy as prescribed by your doctor

 

Important note: If you are a diabetic it is very important that you attend your diabetic clinic appointments as scheduled.

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