This article is a transcribed edited summary of a video Bob and Brad recorded in April of 2024. For the original video go to https://youtu.be/Sqd_p6qYvZs
Mike: Today we're going to go over the early signs of a stroke that you don't want to ignore.
Brad: Now, there are two main categories of stroke risk factors. There are ones that you can control and ones that you can't. We're going to cover those clearly.
Mike: So the first category is modifiable risk factors. Those are things that you can control and change in your life. The other things are non-modifiable risk factors, so those are things that you can't change, but it's good to be aware of them,
Brad: And it is really important that you understand there are risk factors that a lot of people will have. But if you just have one risk factor, that doesn't mean you're going to have a stroke. You need to follow through and see how many risk factors you have before you decide what you need to do to manage it and improve it.
Mike: So first, we're going to go over modifiable risk factors or things that you can control. Now, the first one is unhealthy diets. Having excessive amounts of processed food high in fats, sugars, and sodium can be problematic for many people and can increase your risk of having a stroke.
Brad: Right, so it boils down to eating healthy, avoiding junk food, and you'll be a big step in the right direction. The next one that relates to this, is physical inactivity. If you're sedentary or a couch potato, that inactivity is gonna slow down your circulation and it puts you more at risk for stroke because it really leads to high blood pressure and stress. We'll talk more about that later.
Mike: So regular exercise can help lower your blood pressure, your weight, as well as your cholesterol, which helps reduce your risk of a stroke. So just exercising can help a lot.
Brad: You don't have to run a marathon. Simply walking daily or every other day is a great place to start. It'll make a big difference.
Mike: Another big risk factor is smoking. Smoking actually damages blood vessels and can increase your risk of having a blood clot.
Brad: Right, as some people may not know, a stroke literally is a blood vessel that ruptures or gets plugged up, restricting blood flow to the brain. They relate hand in hand.
Mike: Next on the list is excessive alcohol consumption. Now, if you have a glass of wine every night, that is probably fine, but if you indulge in too much liquor of sorts on a daily basis, it can cause high blood pressure and a whole array of other issues, but your risk of a stroke can definitely go up.
Brad: That's right. Typically, you know, one glass, not a big glass, your typical six to eight ounces, one bottle of beer, 12 ounces. More than that, you're pushing it.
Mike: The next risk factor is obesity. The more weight you carry, the more your heart has to work, putting more strain on your heart and your blood vessels, which can increase your risk for a stroke. Obviously, if you're typically obese, normally the unhealthy diet role plays into this as well. And that it'd all be problematic.
Brad: Right, all these, as you can see, overlay and lap into each other. We're just separating them out a little bit. And the next one goes right with that is diabetes. People can get that onset diabetes later in life, the 50s or 60s years old, all related to the habits and diet that we've just talked about unless you're one of the people who have that diabetes from birth on. Go ahead, Mike.
Mike: So having an uncontrolled blood sugar reading high numerous times can actually start causing arterial damage, meaning destroying your blood vessels, which can eventually lead to a clot and stroke. So make sure to get your diabetes under control. Whether you're type 1 or type 2, it is a big risk factor.
Brad: And finally, we're going to talk about high blood pressure. If you think about blood pressure like the pressure in a hose, the higher the pressure, the more risk that the hose can rupture, and that would be a hemorrhagic stroke. We want to avoid that. So get that blood pressure down. And it's one of those things that will also make you feel better in general. If you have high blood pressure, you typically don't feel well in general.
Mike: Next, we're going to talk about non-modifiable risk factors. So these are things you can't really control. Some of them are just due to genetics, but just because you have these doesn't mean you are going to have a stroke. We're just going through this correlational data they have found through the years.
Brad: That's right. Speak to your doctor if you are concerned. It'll make you feel so much better as they go through things properly with a good assessment.
Mike: So the first non-modifiable risk factor is age. The older you are, typically the higher your risk of strokes you have. Now, this is commonly due to unhealthy modifiable things in your past. Just because you're older doesn't mean you're going to have a stroke, but they are more common as we age.
Brad: Right, that's the statistical data. Family history. If you've had people in your, you know, uncles, aunts, particularly people closer, parents or siblings that have a stroke, you're a higher risk for a stroke, so behave.
Mike: Now, according to statistics, also your race and ethnicity can play a role. People who are African American, Hispanic, and Asian American are at a higher risk of stroke.
Brad: Now, a lot of this is from statistics. In other words, it's actually from things that have happened. They have all the statistics out there. This one's interesting. Men are more likely to have a stroke. However, women are more likely to have a fatal stroke that actually puts them in the grave.
Mike: Next, if you have any of these specific medical conditions, you may be at a higher risk of stroke. These include atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea, and high cholesterol.
Brad: And the next topic is a TIA, in other words, a transient ischemic attack. A lot of times they're called mini-strokes. People have symptoms of a stroke. They come on for a few hours, maybe a day, but then they resolve and they're completely gone within two days or so. Now these are something that you really want to be aware of. Mike, can you follow up with that?
Mike: So oftentimes, they will dissipate early, as Brad mentioned, but a long stroke or normal stroke that you have can last and cause permanent damage to the brain. Typically, TIAs resolve, and you can get everything back functioning normally, whereas, with a stroke, you can possibly have long-term damage.
Brad: Right, so if you've had a TIA and the doctor knows, they're going to clearly guide you with how to change your lifestyle. If you've had TIA symptoms and everything is fine but you did not see the doctor, it is highly recommended. Make sure you see the doctor and get things addressed so you do not have another TIA, which could lead to a full-blown stroke.
Mike: And early diagnosis and treatment of TIAs can often help you prevent a full stroke from happening. So if you have numerous risk factors from both lists and you are concerned, you should definitely go see your doctor and get a proper diagnosis, get some things checked out, and they can put you in good hands to prevent a stroke.
Brad: Alright, now blood pressure is one of the big things with a stroke. We've got another video that you can link up to and see. It's "2 Simple Things That Lowered My Blood Pressure Without Meds," and this is from Bob's personal experience.
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