Stroke: Early Warning Signs That Could Mean the Difference Between Life and Death Page:   1     2

3. Major Risk Factors to Watch
While immediate action is imperative to save a victim and limit damage (only a window of some 3 hours is available and remedy is best within 1 hour of attack), it is most important to know what could expose you to a heightened risk of a stroke. That way, you can aim for the best solution: prevention. The following factors raise the risk of a possible stroke:

• High Blood Pressure
  Elevated and uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is easily the biggest threat and risk factor. If your BP is high, please work with your doctor to get it under control. The risk of stroke is believed to proportionately increase with increases in the BP level, above the normal range.
• Smoking
  A habit of smoking also puts you on the danger list for stroke. Why? Because smoking induces what is called atherosclerosisoss in the carotid arteries - a constriction that can lead to blockage and stroke. You make the choice, but if you dread the consequences of a stroke, a wise step will be to quit smoking.

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• Diabetes Mellitus
  Diabetes also has the effect of closing the small blood vessels. When this happens in the brain, it has the same impact of shutting the brain off needed oxygen and causing a stroke. Controlling the sugar level and impact of diabetes saves you at both ends.
• High Cholesterol Level
  Cholesterol builds plaque in the blood vessels which poses the risk of blockage of the vessels. It is thus a possible cause for stroke. Get your cholesterol level down if it's up. Your doctor will guide you through dietary and, if necessary, medication options for getting the cholesterol level down.
• Heart Disease
  A diseased heart is also a risk factor. Heart problems are weighty on their own, meaning that you need to seek the best possible solution before it degenerates to a stroke or other complication.
• Family History
  Without a specific personal exposure, a family history of strokes reads a warning to exercise some care.

4.Treatment And Management
The first important step is the emergency response to get critical medical treatment urgently available to a stroke victim. The window of opportunity is narrow, meaning that those around him/her must act fast.

Assessment and treatment is really the function of medical experts (this is definitely no area for self-medication), but it's important to understand that:

1. If timely treatment is available, the risk of death is reduced;
2. With timely treatment also, post-attack physical impairment will be moderated or totally eliminated. In effect, normal physical fitness can be attained;
3. Medication is available for the treatment and management of stroke, but your best bet is to keep it at bay. Fortunately, there is a lot of personal care you can take - keep your BP in check, drop that deadly smoking habit, cut down on cholesterol, develop physical fitness and manage other health factors that can predispose to a stroke.
4. Knowledge is the best weapon you have for tackling life's problems, whether of health or in other spheres. You have all to gain by learning more about various health problems and what you can do to healthy living.
5. A habit of regular medical check-ups, even when you feel good, still remains a major tool for proper health management. Build it into your calender and make effort to observe it. Prevention is always a better solution.

In the pursuit of the means of livelihood, never lose sight of the need to protect and preserve the most-important tool - your health.

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