High Blood Pressure: A Significant Risk Factor for Stroke

October 29 is World Stroke Day. Promoted by the World Stroke Organization, the topic of World Stroke Day this year is “What can I do?”

The World Stroke Organization states, you can learn to identify risk elements and symptoms of stroke – and do something about them.

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a significant risk factor for stroke as well as heart disease. Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking all raise the risk of stroke and hypertension.

A stroke is rather like a heart attack, but is located in the brain. Stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel and interrupts blood flow to the brain. A lack of blood flow causes brain damage; brain cells begin to die. Stroke may create weakness in limbs, paralyzed limbs, or loss of ability to speak.

Stroke is the third leading reason of death in America and the leading factor of disability in adults. Up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable with healthy lifestyle choices.

“Stroke is not an inevitable consequence of ageing,” points of Professor Lars Ryden of the Karolinska Institute in Stockhom. “So by identifying and modifying risk factors, there are chances to reduce the incidence and fatality rate of this destructive condition.”

Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death (second only to heart disease), accounting for nearly 6 million deaths each year. The number of stroke victims proceeds to rise around the world.

High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. The Framingham Heart Study found that hypertension doubles the risk of stroke. Smoking also doubles the risk of stroke.

To lower the risk of stroke, you can stop smoking (if you smoke), lose weight, lower blood pressure, eat healthier foods, and exercise regularly. Excessive alcohol consumption and excessive salt intake also raise the risk for high blood pressure as well as stroke. Regular exercise is the key to losing weight, lowering blood pressure, and lowering your risk of stroke.

Walking is a wonderful exercise, and you have no reason to avoid walking. If the weather is bad outdoors, you can walk indoors in a mall, for example. One Japanese study found that regular vigorous walking reduced the risk of stroke by upwards of 20 percent. In a similar Finnish study, researchers found that leisure-time physical activity is a deterrent of stroke. Lying on the couch and watching television might seem like the most relaxing activity, but when that’s your only leisure-time activity, then it’s actually creating more stress and anxiety within your body. You must maintain physical activity levels to release that stress and keep your body healthy.

In summation, to mimimize your risk of stroke, employ these simple recommendations: Stop smoking. Walk or exercise daily. Eat five servings of fruit and vegetables each day. Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels within healthy ranges.

See high blood pressure exercises for additional pointers on reducing blood pressure naturally.

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What Causes a Stroke

The number cause of stroke is high blood pressure or hypertension. A range of 140/90 or higher is where the risk of stroke becomes prominent. The results of hypertension include damage to the major organs including the kidneys, heart and eyes. In addition, high blood pressure can also result in weakened areas in blood vessels which can then burst, leading to a hemorrhagic stroke.

An Ischemic stroke is a condition in which blood vessels have narrowed or become completely blocked. This is caused by plaque buildup in the arteries or a blood clot that eventually blocks the artery therefore cutting off blood flow to the brain. These blood clots can form and travel from other areas of the body or form inside the artery itself.

An embolism or blood clot that breaks apart from other areas of the body is another risk factor for stroke. Atrial fibrillation is a result of blood clots forming in the atria which causes consistent fluttering or contracting, resulting in blood clots.

Blood clots that form in the artery (thrombus) are usually found on plaque deposits. Cracks develop in the plaque causing cells to adhere to it forming a blood clot. The clot then grows in size as more cells accumulate, leading to blocking off the artery to blood flow. This causes tissue on the other side of the blockage to be deprived of oxygen rich blood and nutrients, leading to cell death and ischemia. The result is a stroke. This is the same mechanism that exists in heart attacks, only it involves the heart.

Kinds of stroke:

- Hemorrhagic: Bleeding into the brain caused by a ruptured blood vessel. – Ischemic: Caused by narrowed or occluded arteries due to plaque deposits.

Causes:

- High Blood Pressure – Diabetes – Atrial Fibrillation – Heart Disease

The risk factors include:

- Family history – Hypertension – Heart disease – Diabetes – High serum cholesterol levels – Ethnicity – Age – Prior stroke

Broken bones are another risk factor for stroke. This is especially worrisome for the elderly. Tissue from a fractured bone can travel through the bloodstream into the lungs resulting in respiratory failure. In addition, the tissue can travel to the brain resulting in a stroke or to the heart causing a heart attack.

Simply reducing risk factors and using preventative methods can work wonders in the fight against an illness that can create lifelong disabilities.

Preventative Methods:

- Maintain normal blood pressure – Maintain blood sugar levels – Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Eating a healthy diet: Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals, nuts, and pastas. Serve lean meats and fish as well as foods that are high in fiber and low in fats and cholesterol. Reduce red meat consumption to once per month. Knowing the causes of stroke will help you to reduce your risk, and possibly prevent its occurrence.