10 Ways You Can Help Prevent Stroke
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stroke is the No. 1 cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S. Over the course of a lifetime, stroke affects an estimated four out of five families. Although these statistics sound dire, take heart: With these strategies, you can help your parents reduce their risk — and reduce your own at the same time.
1. Control blood pressure — High blood pressure means a high risk of stroke. If one of your parents has been diagnosed with prehypertension (120/80 mm Hg to 139/89 mm Hg) or hypertension (140/90 or higher), his blood pressure should be treated. The doctor will prescribe the appropriate medications, but your parent’s blood pressure needs regular monitoring. Although it can be a bit tricky to use, an inexpensive manual cuff (starting at about $12 at your local drugstore) is a great way to monitor blood pressure at home. But if you can’t get the hang of using it, you may want to consider investing in a blood pressure machine, which is a bit more expensive (between $70 and $150); it’s also available at your local drugstore.
2. Manage stress and depression — A parent’s emotional and psychological state can have a very real effect on his physical health. Minimizing stress, anger and depression is an important aspect of maintaining good cardiovascular health and avoiding a stroke. If your parent lives by himself, he may feel disconnected and alone. Even if your parents still have each other, sitting around the house can lead to boredom and unhappiness. Help your parents get out, make new friends or simply engage in stimulating activities. Their local church or community center is an excellent place to connect with other seniors. Perhaps your parent is already a social butterfly but still seems to be having difficulty with his mood. Encourage him to try these stress-busting strategies:
# Cut back on caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
# Try meditation or yoga.
# Play relaxing music.
# Go for a walk outdoors.
If you’ve tried everything and still feel concerned about your parent’s mood, talk to his doctor. Depression is a serious but treatable illness.
3. Reduce the risk of blood clots — Ask your parents’ doctor about medications that can reduce their risk of developing blood clots. The most commonly recommended medication is aspirin, which is inexpensive and can be taken at a low dose (81 milligrams is the usual recommended dose). If your parents have other medical issues, the doctor may prescribe a more potent drug.
4. Control other medical conditions — If your parents have atrial fibrillation (an abnormal rhythm involving the upper two chambers of the heart), diabetes, heart valve disease or vascular disease, they have a much greater risk of stroke. These medical conditions require careful management. Make sure their doctor knows about any such conditions and is treating them appropriately.
5. Talk to the doctor about medications that might increase your parents’ risk. Hormone replacement therapy, rosiglitazone for diabetes, and COX-2 inhibitors for controlling arthritis pain are all examples of medications that may increase your parents’ risk of stroke. Review their medications with their doctor and ask if there are less risky alternatives.
6. Know the early warning signs and seek treatment to prevent a stroke. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, one out of three people who have a transient ischemic attack will suffer an acute stroke. Signs of a TIA, or ministroke, include:
# Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg — especially on one side of the body
# Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
# Sudden trouble seeing out of one or both eyes
# Sudden difficulty walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness
For more detailed information, see TIA: How to Know If a Loved One Is at Risk for a Stroke. If you think your parent has suffered a TIA, notify his doctor right away so that he can be treated.
7. Keep “bad” cholesterol levels low — One of the major risk factors for stroke is a high bloodstream level of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol. Ideally, your parent’s total cholesterol should be no more than 200 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) and no more than five times the level of HDL or “good” cholesterol; his LDL levels should be below 70 mg/dL. Make sure his cholesterol levels are checked regularly and treated if necessary. Following a low-fat diet and exercising regularly may help, but it might not be enough. If his cholesterol levels don’t respond to lifestyle changes, his doctor may prescribe medication.
8. Follow a heart-healthy diet — The best diet for preventing stroke is the one recommended by the American Heart Association. Choose a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, lean meats and low-fat or fat-free dairy products. Your parent should limit intake of fat (total fat between 25 and 35 percent of daily calories, saturated fat less than 7 percent, and trans fat less than 1 percent), cholesterol (less than 200 milligrams per day if LDL levels are high, less than 300 milligrams per day if they aren’t) and sodium (less than 1,500 milligrams per day for high blood pressure, less than 2,300 milligrams per day otherwise). Your mother should consume no more than one alcoholic beverage per day, your father no more than two. And they should each eat 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber every day.
9. Encourage regular exercise — Exercise is essential for general cardiovascular health and is key to preventing a stroke. But how much exercise is enough? The Centers for Disease Control and the American Heart Association recommend accumulating at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity at least five days a week on most days. This doesn’t mean your parents need to do half an hour of aerobics five days a week; instead, you can encourage short bursts of activity throughout the day. Just parking farther away from the store and walking the extra distance or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can quickly add up. But before your parents begin any exercise program, they should talk to their doctor about any restrictions they might have.
10. Help them stop smoking — Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for stroke. If your parents or anyone who lives in their home smokes, quitting is essential to good health. Just living with a smoker increases the risk of stroke by almost 30 percent. But recognize that stopping smoking isn’t easy. Here are a few ways you can help:
# Ask your parents what they think would make it easier for them. They may have suggestions you haven’t thought of.
# Encourage them to talk about their feelings and what they’re going through. Smoking may be a comforting lifelong habit; let them mourn a little.
# You may be tempted to nag or yell if they slip up, but it’s more effective to remind them that you love them no matter what. Be positive and encouraging, and vent your frustration to a friend instead.
# Help them avoid situations that trigger the desire for a smoke. If they’re used to enjoying a cigarette after meals, try going for a short walk outside instead.
# Be understanding as they go through withdrawal symptoms. Try not to take it personally if they’re especially irritable, short-tempered and tired.
# Quit smoking yourself. If you must smoke, don’t smoke around your parents. Not only will it make quitting more difficult for them, but the secondhand smoke will increase their risk of heart attack.
If your parents find it too difficult to quit on their own, talk to their doctor. Nicotine replacement therapy, support groups and counseling may all be helpful. By Stephanie Trelogan, WPXI
Toyota Says It Will Act Soon On Priuses
Toyota said yesterday that it will soon announce plans to deal with braking problems in its prized Prius hybrid amid reports it has decided to issue a recall for the vehicle in Japan, a possible new embarrassment for the world’s biggest automaker.
Toyota Motor Corp. has had to recall more than 7 million other cars in the United States, Europe, and China over a sticky accelerator and floor mats that can get caught in the gas pedal. Those problems and criticism of Toyota’s response to them have sullied the stellar reputation for quality long held by one of Japan’s corporate icons.
Separately, the company has told dealers in the United States it is preparing to repair the brakes on thousands of Prius vehicles there, according to an e-mail sent by a company executive. It was unclear whether Toyota planned a formal US recall.
“We will make an announcement soon on the action we plan to take,’’ spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said, commenting on media reports yesterday that the company had decided to issue a Japan recall. Takeuchi did not confirm those reports.
The Prius is the world’s top-selling gas-electric hybrid, and its fuel efficiency has drawn intense interest amid concerns about global warming and dependence on fossil fuels.
Toyota decided Saturday on a recall in Japan covering its latest Prius model and has notified domestic dealers, according to Japan’s largest newspaper, the Yomiuri, which did not name sources. It said Toyota would announce the move early in the coming week after consulting with the Japanese government. Japan’s Kyodo News agency and TV Asahi carried similar reports. Kyodo said Toyota has started notifying dealers, and that at least 170,000 vehicles in Japan would be subject to recall.
Phone calls to the section at Japan’s transport ministry dealing with recalls went unanswered yesterday. None of about 10 Toyota dealers in Tokyo and the western Japanese city of Osaka had received any notification. Three dealers in the United States said the same thing on yesterday.
Prius drivers in Japan and the United States have complained of a short delay before the antilock brakes kick in – a flaw Toyota says can be fixed with a software programming change. The brakes will work if the driver keeps pushing the pedal.
The brake problem affects about 270,000 Priuses that were sold in the United States and Japan starting in May. The company says it has fixed vehicles that went on sale since last month.
Bob Carter, a Toyota group vice president, sent an e-mail message Friday night to US dealers, saying the automaker is working on a Prius repair plan and will disclose details early this week. At least 100 US drivers of Prius cars have complained to the government that their brakes seemed to fail momentarily when they were driving on bumpy roads. The government says the problem is suspected in four crashes and two minor injuries.
Public awareness of the problem “has prompted considerable customer concern, speculation, and media attention due to the significance of the Prius image,’’ Carter said in the e-mail. “We want to assure our dealers that we are moving rapidly to provide a solution for your existing customers.’’
Toyota yesterday began airing spots on US television that say the company is “working around the clock’’ to build the highest-quality vehicles and to restore faith in its vehicles.
“In recent days, our company hasn’t been living up to the standards that you’ve come to expect from us,’’ an unidentified announcer said in a voiceover.
Carter wrote that the ads tell viewers about Toyota’s 50-plus years of building safe, reliable vehicles in the United States.
Toyota’s response to the safety issues has drawn the attention of US politicians.
Toyota Motor North America’s chairman, Yoshi Inaba, will appear before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on Wednesday.
A key committee member has asked that transportation officials who served under President George W. Bush also appear. By Kelly Olsen, The Boston Globe
Lasting & Highly Beneficial
Great news in the world of health: A major study reported that bariatric surgery can have an immediate, lasting, and highly beneficial impact on those with diabetes. In fact, the report had it that the surgery improved or completely eliminated the disease in well over half of the patients studied. Obesity is a main risk factor in type 2 diabetes, with over 90% of patients overweight or obese, and diet and exercise have long been prescribed as a way to curb the effects of the disease.
Meanwhile, bariatric patients lose weight the way other people do, by eating less and following a good diet, though the surgery makes it very uncomfortable to eat large amounts of food. Still, they must commit to a different diet for the rest of their lives and often attend support group meetings to help them deal with the consequences of the surgery. Studying the effects of bariatric surgery was an intuitive stroke of genius, hence, it appears that by completely and surgically removing the obesity risk factor, the diabetes managed to resolve itself. This does also lend evidence to the suspicion that type 2 diabetes is directly related to obesity and inactivity.
‘Eat Less To Avoid Diseases And Live Long’
You have to eat less to live long to avoid all degenerate diseases; also practise all traditional systems of medicines — this message was conveyed to people by speakers on Friday at the concluding session of the two-day national seminar on ‘Traditional Indian diets and health care’ jointly organised by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas.
The seminar recommended inclusion of Ayurveda in school curriculum and its practise in homes, as part of the AYUSH systems of medicine. It favoured an integration of all traditional systems of Indian medicine and its inculcation among youngsters. These systems should be treated as practical solutions, as practised by grandmas in the good olden days, a speaker stressed. According to organising secretary J. Padmaja Rambabu, B. Sesikeran, NIN director, suggested to ISERVE to come out with a viable proposal in the integrated traditional Indian system of medicine to be taken up implementation.
The participants discussed topics like ‘malnutrition and imbalanced diets and health aspects’ and other related issues. The Hindu
Online Food Programs Can Improve Eating Habits
Online programs focusing on the benefits of fruits and vegetables can inspire people to eat healthy, a new study claims.
After a 12-month long study, researchers at Henry Ford Hospital insist providing information and tips about fruits and vegetables may be the key to getting more people to eat healthier.
As part of the study, the experts recruited members of Health Alliance Plan and four other HMOs in Seattle, Denver, Minneapolis and Atlanta, ages 21 to 65.
The participants were divided in to three groups.
A control online program that provided general information for the participants about improving their fruit and vegetable intake.
A program that was similar but personalized to the individual’s needs
And, a program that incorporated the other two components and was also supplemented with motivational interviewing counseling via e-mail.
The program included a total of four sessions.
These sessions included four to five pages of core content, illustrations and optional links to more detailed information and special features designed to supplement session content, with special features illustrated serving sizes and nutritional similarities of fresh versus frozen versus canned foods.
Apart from information on 300 fruit and vegetable-based recipes, the participant could also access short video and audio files.
At the end of the study, researchers noted improvement across all study groups, but the most significant changes were observed in the group that had motivational interviewing and counseling.
Study co-author, Gwen Alexander, PhD, assistant research scientist, said: “We found that giving participants gentle reminders that refocused them on their goals greatly improved progress. They were being held accountable for their progress, which became a key motivator.”
Also, Study senior author Christine Cole Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., chair of Henry Ford’s Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiologym, added: “People already know the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, but they often don’t know how to incorporate them into their diet.
“That’s why our study worked. Using online programs, we were able to offer study participants practical and easy tips to increase their daily fruit and vegetable intake.” DNA India