Doctors have published a guide to stroke prevention amid a worrying rise in young people.
Strokes are commonly thought of as a disease of the elderly, but they have increased nearly 15 percent over the past decade in people ages 18 to 44.
They are also the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 160,000 people each year.
And more than 800,000 Americans a year will suffer one (one every 40 seconds), leaving them at risk of paralysis, seizures, memory loss and organ failure.
While the increase is concerning, new guidelines from the American Heart Association suggest that 80 percent of strokes “are preventable” if people follow the “Eight Essentials for Life.”
This is a set of lifestyle factors that have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, including tips such as eating more bananas at meals and following an Italian diet.
As more than 800,000 Americans suffer a stroke each year, the American Heart Association released new guidelines to reduce the risk (file image)
The CDC report found that strokes have increased in people ages 18 to 64 by about 15 percent when comparing stroke cases from 2011-2013 to stroke cases from 2020-2022.
The article, published on Monday in the magazine StrokeIt comes as strokes increase in young people by 14.7 percent between 2011 and 2022.
Experts say surges in obesity, high blood pressure and addiction could be behind this rise, while others believe young people are more prone to stress, making them more vulnerable.
Strokes occur when a blockage in a blood vessel prevents blood from reaching the brain. Heart problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol can narrow blood vessels, increasing the risk of blockages.
About one in six patients who suffer a stroke dies soon afterward.
The first item on the ‘Essential 8’ list is maintaining a healthy diet, as science has long shown that diets high in fat, sugar and calories can narrow arteries, increasing the risk of stroke. .
Experts point to the Mediterranean diet, which prioritizes basic ingredients in Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece.
These include whole grains, lean proteins like fish, healthy fats like olive oil, plant-based proteins like lentils, and nuts.
Mountains of research have shown the protective benefit of the eating plan for heart health.
For example, a 2023 study found that strictly following a Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease and stroke by about a quarter.
The AHA also suggested reducing sodium intake and replacing it with foods rich in potassium, as potassium has been shown to help relax blood vessels and help the body get rid of excess sodium, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Foods rich in potassium include fruits such as bananas and apricots, vegetables such as sweet potatoes and parsnips, fish such as cod and snapper, and nuts and seeds.
The CDC estimates that nine in 10 Americans consume too much salt: 3,400 milligrams on average. This is a third more than the AHA’s recommended daily limit of 2,300.
The telltale signs of an impending stroke often go unnoticed. These include sudden numbness on one side of the body, sudden vertigo, and difficulty swallowing.
Experts also recommended getting at least 150 minutes of exercise per week, which is in line with the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The experts wrote that physical activity has been shown to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammation, weight, blood vessel function and insulin resistance.
The graphic above from the American Heart Association shows the agency’s eight essential steps to reduce the risk of stroke.
They recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, per week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity, such as running, per week.
However, they noted that “any physical activity is better than none” and suggested that “light physical activity” may also have benefits.
A study published last year in JAMA OncologyFor example, it found that just three short bouts of exercise per day reduced the risk of death from heart disease by almost 50 percent.
Losing weight was also one of the AHA’s essential tips for dramatically reducing the risk of stroke.
About 40 percent of Americans are obese, CDC data suggests, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30. And the AHA team estimated that by the end of the decade, almost half will reach this threshold.
The team specifically pointed to bariatric surgery and GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, which “are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, in selected patients.”
They suggested that these measures may reduce the risk of stroke by reducing blood sugar as well as weight.
A study by Australian researchers, for example, found that patients with diabetes who took semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, were 29 percent less likely to die from a heart attack or stroke.
Additionally, AHA experts suggested that sleep disruption could increase the risk of stroke. They pointed to obstructive sleep apnea, which causes the airways to narrow and close during sleep, causing breathing problems.
The team wrote that obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of stroke by reducing blood flow to the brain and lowering oxygen levels, which can cause changes in blood vessels in the brain.
Regarding smoking, the experts wrote that “tobacco use is an important modifiable risk factor for stroke worldwide.”
They wrote that tobacco use is responsible for 18 percent of deaths from strokes and disabilities worldwide, which could be because the 7,000 toxic chemicals in cigarettes damage the walls of blood vessels and cause arteries to collapse. they harden.
Nicotine has also been shown to increase blood pressure and smoking makes the blood stickier and more likely to clot.
The last tips on the AHA’s list of essentials were to lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, which could be achieved by adopting the five suggestions above.