Considering that it is Stroke Awareness Month,
it is important to talk a little bit about this condition. A stroke occurs when
blood flow to a certain part of your brain is cut off. The interruption in the
blood supply prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain's tissue.
Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue become damaged and may start to die
within minutes. To help prevent stroke, it is important to know what its major
causes are. Let's take a look at them!
High blood pressure
Medical practitioners may call it hypertension. High
blood pressure is one of the biggest causes of strokes. If your blood pressure
is typically 140/90 or higher your doctor will advise and discuss treatments
with you.
Tip:
To effectively calculate heart rate and blood pressure, most clinics and
hospitals use a PC Based Resting ECG (Electrocardiogram)
device.
Tobacco
Smoking or chewing tobacco increases your chances of
getting a stroke. Nicotine can make your blood pressure go up. Cigarette smoke
creates a fatty buildup in your main neck artery and also thickens your blood,
making it more likely to clot.
Heart disease
Under this condition, patients tend to have
defective heart valves as well as atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat,
which contributes to a quarter of all strokes among the elderly. You might also
have clogged arteries from fatty deposits.
Diabetes
People with diabetes often have high blood pressure
and are more likely to be overweight. Both increase the chances of a stroke.
Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, which makes a stroke more likely to
occur. If you have a stroke when your blood sugar levels are high, the injury
to your brain is larger.
To calculate your heart rate and measure blood
pressure, if you are a physician, you should purchase a PC Based Resting ECG system.
If you are a patient, you should continue to have annual physicals and if
needed, take a Resting ECG test.
No comments:
Post a Comment