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Archive for health risks

Reduce Your Chance of Stroke

The first step in reducing your chance of stroke is by being fully understanding what it is, what causes it and what you can do to prevent it! Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries that lead to and within the brain. Stroke ranks number 5 in causes of death and is a leading cause of disability in the United States. It is a serious disease that can happen to anyone, at anytime and at any age. Stroke causes lasting brain damage, long-term disability and even death, with little warning.

Strokes can be caused by a blockage of blood flow and oxygen entering the brain as well as blood vessels leaking blood into the brain tissue where brain cells stop working because of it. The causation of stroke dependent on your body. Blood pressure can play a large role in the risk factors of stroke.

Warnings & Symptoms

There may be little to no warning signs of a stroke until it happens. High blood pressure plays a large role in stroke as it can increase your chances of having one. Some warnings and symptoms can last for a few minutes at a time so it is very crucial to be aware of the signs. Time is limited and being aware matters most before a stroke occurs. Symptoms can be mild or excessive, depending on the type of stroke experienced.
Symptoms of a stroke include:

  • Weakness
  • Numbness
  • Facial Droop
  • Speech difficulties
  • Partial vision loss
  • Balance difficulties
  • While these are not the only symptoms of stroke, they are the main indicators of one that should be paid attention to at all costs.

    Types of Stroke

    Different types of stroke are dependent on the part of the brain that is being affected. The two types of blood supply loss in the brain is ischemic and hemorrhagic. The loss of blood ultimately affects parts of your body to stop working which also tells you what kind of stroke a person is having.

    The occurrence of an artery in the brain being blocked, preventing oxygen and blood to reach the brain is called ischemic stroke or referred to as clots. Blockage can be caused by cholesterol buildup otherwise known as plaque. Plaques are dangerous because if they rupture, that is what causes a clot to form and prevent blood from passing through to the brain. This is the most common type of stroke many experience.

    Hemorrhagic strokes also referred to bleeds are caused by blood vessels leaking into the brain tissue which causes the brain cells to stop working. This type of stroke can be caused by having high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause the wall of your artery to weaken over time which can cause strokes, aneurysms, and more types of damage.

    Prevention is the best treatment for reducing your risk factors of stroke. Strokes are life threatening. Your awareness for what can cause it and prevent it can save your life. Preventive care means keeping a close eye on your cholesterol intake, diabetes and smoking. Keeping all three under control can help with preventing blood clots that lead to ischemic strokes. Blood pressure should be controlled with simple lifestyle changes including exercise, good weight and cutting back on a few foods high in sugar and carbohydrates. To learn more, contact Silver State Neurology and we can help you tackle all your questions and concerns!

    Maintaining your Brain Health

    Maintaining brain health is often taken for granted. Many assume that there isn’t much maintenance you have to do, but it is just as important as any part of your body; it is actually one of the most important parts of your body. Your brain plays a special role in everything you do from your personality, memory, education or work. Since your brain controls many aspects of your life, it’s important to know that it should be taken care of.

    As you get older, your brain needs more maintenance. You feel stress much more intensely, have a harder time connecting things, and your brain simply gets tired. Prevention is key in making sure your brain doesn’t slow down earlier on! Everything from exercise, nutrition, social interactions and more can affect your brain on a daily basis. Being aware of it is the next biggest thing to remember when  maintaining your brain health.

    Exercise Mentally and Physically

    Exercise is known to maintain health in all aspects. Not only does exercise in a routinely basis reduce risk of physical health disease, but it improves your overall quality of life. You will notice your energy levels increase and your entire well-being improving along with your brain. It improves your quality of sleep and provides better balance in your life. Exercise not only affects your body positively but it is likely you will avoid depression and anxiety. Reading and playing games that challenge your mind can also improve your brain’s memory to avoid getting diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

    Our ability to interact with other socially is also a way to reduce the amount of stress that can affect the brain. Being secluded or isolated can sometimes promote depression or anxiety which eventually strains the brain. Social networks is another way to decrease the chances of dementia.

    Healthy Eating Habits

    It is often said that paying attention to the food your body consumes is essential in health, however, understanding why we eat and what we eat can influence our health and longevity in your life. You are what you eat after all! It’s not a matter of giving up the unhealthy foods, but making sure you are properly getting the nutrients your body needs to maintain its health. That is especially true for your brain health. Certain foods can reduce the risks of disorders or diseases your brain can develop over time. Fruits and vegetables are an easy addition to your diet that can make a huge difference. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be a chore, nor does it have to be difficult. You can get creative with your meals and practice making dishes that are rich in nutrients. You don’t have to sacrifice the flavor of your meal just to be healthy. Healthy foods are just as tasty!

    Getting Enough Sleep

    When you’re young, you think sleep isn’t as valuable and you could do without much of it. Getting at least 6 hours of sleep a nigh can help you manage the stress better, gives you more energy and even boosts your immune system. Anything less than 6 hours of sleep can affect your mood, make you feel tired throughout the day and can make your brain undergo a lot of stress. Sleep is an essential part in making sure your brain is healthy from risks of memory diseases, and other mental disorders.

    Stay Aware of Health Risks

    Always be aware of the things that can be harmful to your brain. Stress is part of your everyday life and will likely always be part of your life. Managing stress by understanding what your brain needs can help reduce the effects of it. Don’t put your brain under any mental strain if it doesn’t have to be. Drastic lifestyle changes don’t need to happen as long as you are being cautious of what you do to your body whether it be consuming large amounts of unhealthy foods constantly, not exercising and not having healthy sleepy habits. While the rest of your body is very important, don’t be too focused on the other areas that you forget about what your brain needs. Your Las Vegas Neurologist will be able to provide you more information on keeping your brain healthy.