May is American Stroke Month and one of the top priorities for experts is stopping more strokes from ever happening in the first place.
A stroke is an urgent medical emergency and they often seem to strike out of the blue, but the reality is, that many of the underlying causes of stroke have been silently progressing for years or even decades. Many people on the road to a stroke right now could get off that path starting with a call to your doctor.
Studies estimate that 80% of strokes could be prevented and one of the key steps you can take to reduce your risk starts with a phone call. Seeing your doctor regularly is step one to preventing strokes.
“We saw a lot during the pandemic where patients weren’t following up as much,” said Dr. Rebbeca Grysiewicz, with Corewell Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Center. “So it’s really important, even if you haven’t to get back to your physician and addressing all of these risk factors that we know when they’re controlled significantly reduce your risk of having that stroke in the first place.”
Those visits are critical for younger people too.
“We are seeing more young patients having strokes so about 10% of strokes are patients that are under 50 years of age,” Grysiewicz said. “It’s important for younger people to also establish care with a physician and make sure they’re addressing blood pressure, diabetes, quit smoking, cholesterol, all of those things.”
Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can reduce the risk of stroke. Grysiewicz said there is also a new emphasis on the importance of sleep.
“It’s the recharge time. So when you’re going to sleep your brain is resetting and doing a lot of healing that is that needs to go on,” Grysiewicz said. “And if you’re not getting quality sleep, that process of healing is not happening on a regular basis.”
Treating problems like sleep apnea can also decrease the risk of stroke.
The bottom line is addressing health problems sooner can help keep you on the healthy path later on.
“About 80% of strokes can actually be prevented,” Grysiewicz said. “So there’s a lot of opportunity in our day-to-day lives to do the right things to keep your body your brain and your heart healthy.”
This is where it’s so helpful to have a healthcare provider that you like and trust, one who can get to know you and help you get your health problems under control. If you haven’t seen a doctor in a while, make the call, get the appointment, and don’t cancel it.