While Stroke can happen to any at anytime – sometimes for factors which remain a puzzle -studies are increasingly establishing some very dominant causal factors for adults.
A study conducted in 2016 looked at about 27,000 people in 32 countries – many of which are the so called LMIC – Low to Middle Income Countries ( Which includes India ). These results are the conclusion of almost eight years of study and work.
The Study conclusively established that the following factors explained 90 % of the Strokes in the research group.
- Hypertension ( aka high Blood Pressure )
- Lipids ( ratios)
- Smoking
- Physical inactivity
- Cardiac Causes
- Diet
- Alcohol
- Diabetes Mellitus ( high blood sugar )and
- Psychosocial Factors (that lead to stress)
Of these, Hypertension – High Blood Pressure – was determined to be the most significant risk factor.
Many of these factors – physical inactivity, Diet and high BP for example , have a direct correlation to one another. And all above are in our control to some extent or another ! The study shows that the number of strokes would be practically cut in half (48%) if hypertension was eliminated; trimmed by more than a third (36%) if people were physically active; and shaved by almost one fifth (19%) if they had better diets. Poor diets include those heavy on refined carbohydrates, saturated fats, and sweet drinks. A better diet may include Aim for at least one and a half to two cups of fruit and two or three servings of vegetables a day, sufficient fiber, foods high in omega-3 fats like nuts, olive oil, and avocados , cutting back on on red and processed meats etc. Some more thoughts are here.
In addition, this proportion was cut back by 12% if smoking was eliminated; 9% for cardiac (heart) causes, 4% for diabetes, 6% for alcohol intake, 6% for stress, and 27% for lipids (the study used apolipoproteins, which was found to be a better predictor of stroke than total cholesterol). Ratio of ApoB to ApoA1 was used and found to be a better marker. To know more about the ApoB to ApoA1 ratio, click here.
The study concludes that ten risk factors that can be modified are responsible for nine of 10 strokes worldwide !
For more details of this study, you may also click here.
Hence, very simple but disciplined lifestyle changes can lead to a much lesser risk of this terrible malaise. For more information and some simple tips you may see :
https://strokesupport.in/lifestyle-changes-to-prevent-stroke/
Precaution is MUCH better than Cure – particularly for Stroke. Hence please monitor yourself and your dear ones on these factors closely as well as share to others !
If you have limited/No information about Stroke, its symptoms and consequences, we STRONGLY suggest you read at least one of the following before you leave this Website, as well as share the links with your friends and family. You may save someone from sudden death or being crippled for life !
* Be fast – Stroke Symptoms in English with Videos of Actual Strokes
* स्ट्रोक (आघात) – हिंदी में कुछ जानकारी
* स्ट्रोक-के-साधारण-लक्षण
* In Bengali – Be Fast – দ্রুত !
* In Gujarati – જ્યારે સ્ટ્રોક આવે ત્યારે BE FAST
* In Marathi – BE FAST स्ट्रोक होतो तेव्हा !
* In Odiya – ଷ୍ଟ୍ରୋକ: ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଅଥବା ଶାରୀରିକ/ମାନସିକ ଅସମର୍ଥ