SPRING 2007
“I pray that you may enjoy good health and all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well†(3John:2).
Spring is a great time to recognize high blood pressure, cholesterol and stroke awareness.
What do I need to know about stroke, cholesterol and BP?
Stroke is also called a brain attack and is caused when the blood supply to the brain is clogged or bursts. Therefore, part of the brain does not get enough oxygen or nutrients which can cause death of brain cells within minutes. When a significant amount of brain cells die there is permanent damage. Some strokes are preceded by mini-strokes (also called transient ischemic attacks or TIA’s) where there are stroke symptoms that resolve fairly quickly and are not permanent. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, problems in the blood vessels such as atherosclerosis and aneurysms, some heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation.
The warning signs of stroke can include:
Sudden numbness on one side of face, arm or leg
Difficulty speaking or being understood by others
Sudden change in vision
Dizziness, loss of balance, or difficulty walking
A sudden severe headache
What can I do to protect myself from stroke, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels?
Following are guidelines for reducing your stroke risk.
Check your blood pressure often. It can be elevated without any symptoms.
If you have high blood pressure or cholesterol, work at reducing them.
Maintain a normal weight and exercise at least 4 days per week (exercise can help prevent stroke)
Eat a heart healthy diet
Take medication as prescribed even if you feel fine.
Know your numbers and keep your cholesterol level low.
If your cholesterol level is over 200 or LDL over 130 check with your doctor for available medications.
Your parish nurses have additional information to help you reduce your risk of stroke. Please call with any questions.