Stroke is a major health issue across Asia. The Global Burden of Disease study in 2019 showed that in Asia, the greatest stroke burden was in East and South-East Asia. What can we do to prevent stroke from happening to us?
New Guidelines on Stroke Prevention
The American Stroke Association (ASA) has updated its recommendations for preventing a first stroke. Notably, this change is big news, as the guidelines were last updated a decade ago.
“This guideline is important because new discoveries have been made since the last update 10 years ago,” shared Dr. Cheryl D. Bushnell, professor and vice chair of research in the department of neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She led the panel of experts that wrote the new guidelines.
The recommendations also include new guidance for preventing stroke in women and include a emphasis on social drivers of health, such as one’s education, economic stability and access to care.
In particular, the ASA’s new advice focuses on a few key things to lower your risk.
- Staying active
- Eating well
- Keeping an eye on your health
- Health screening to stay on track
“The most effective way to reduce the occurrence of a stroke and stroke-related death is to prevent the first stroke,” Dr. Bushnell affirmed.
The new guidelines suggest small, manageable changes – like staying active and choosing healthy foods – to make stroke prevention enjoyable.
Why Staying Active Helps
Staying physically active is one of the simplest ways to lower stroke risk. Regular movement, like walking or joining a fitness class, can reduce key risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Increased physical activity can help regulate blood pressure, cholesterol, inflammatory markers, insulin resistance, endothelial function, and weight.” says Dr. Muhammad Alvi, a stroke expert and neurologist at West Virginia University.
Tip: Decrease sedentary lifestyles and increase physical activity. Try to add some movement into your every day!
Eating Well for Stroke Prevention
Another major part of stroke prevention is eating a balanced, nutritious diet.
The ASA’s guidelines recommend a Mediterranean-style diet, which emphasises plant-based foods, healthy fats, and whole grains. This way of eating has been linked to a lower risk of stroke and other health benefits.
According to Dr. Alvi, “Many adults can decrease their risk of stroke by following a Mediterranean dietary pattern. Mediterranean dietary programmes focus on plant-based foods and healthy fats.”
Tip: While it may seem difficult to follow a Mediterranean diet when eating an Asian cuisine, you can focus on increasing vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and extra virgin olive oil intake in your daily diet
Taking Care of Health Risks
For those with risk factors like obesity or Type 2 diabetes, medications can help reduce stroke risk.
For example, new FDA-approved medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as semaglutide and trizepatide, have shown promise in managing these risk factors.
“Obesity and weight continue to be a factor for many stroke patients,” says Dr. Alvi, “and this new guideline explores using FDA-approved glucagon-like protein-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications, like semaglutide or trizepatide, for patients with this risk factor and Type 2 diabetes.”
Read also: Life-saving Drug to Tackle Strokes: A Medical Breakthrough from Down Under
Health Screenings to Stay on Track
Along with lifestyle changes, regular health screenings are vital for stroke prevention. Monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar helps catch issues early, so they can be addressed before becoming serious.
“When we address risk factors like high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar, we can increase the likelihood of preventing a first stroke.” shares Dr. Alvi.
Tip: Go for regular check-ups with your doctor, as well as health screening. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, do manage the condition closely with your doctor.
These new guidelines show that there is a lot we can do to lower our risk of stroke every day. With healthy choices, regular checkups, and, if needed, the right medications, you can take action to stay healthier and keep your risk of stroke as low as possible.
