13/01/2016
Stroke can come in two major forms:
1) A blood clot in a blood vessel in the brain which reduces or stops blood flow to parts of the brain
2) A hemorrhage or bleeding in brain tissue.
When blood flow to the brain is disrupted by a stroke, brain cells can die or be damaged from lack of oxygen. Brain cells can also be damaged if bleeding occurs in or around the brain. The resulting neurologic problems are called cerebrovascular disorders because of the brain (cerebrum) and blood vessel (vascular) involvement.
Prevention of strokes - risk factors
Have a healthy diet, increase intake of fruits, vegetables, fish and certain herbs such as garlic. Eating oranges and other citrus fruits may help reduce stroke risk, perhaps due to compounds called flavanones. A Western diet rich in red meat, white flour and sugar increases the risk. Those with a higher intake of fiber have a reduced risk.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2013. Garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ischemic stroke. Daily garlic intake is an independent predictor of endothelial function in patients with ISS and may play a role in the secondary prevention of atherosclerotic events.
Try to reduce your body weight if you are overweight. Excess weight increases stroke risk and the heavier a person is, the greater their risk. Eating right before going to sleep also raises the risk.
Reduce hypertension naturally
Reduce cholesterol level with diet and supplements
Reduce or eliminate smoking
Reduce alcohol intake.
Have adequate fluid intake. Patients who are clinically dehydrated when they present with ischemic stroke are more likely to worsen over the next few days.
Aspirin is a much more cost-effective way to treat patients at risk of having a second heart attack or stroke than the new drug Plavix (clopidogrel). A daily baby aspirin, or even two or three times a week, is often recommended by doctors to help prevent heart attacks or stroke, but for people over 70 years old the benefits may be offset by bleeding risks. So, aspirin is best reserved for those younger than age 70 or 65. If you take fish oils and ginkgo, or other dietary supplements that reduce the risk for blood clots, you may need to take aspirin less often.
Women using low-dose oral contraceptives are at an increased risk for a heart attack or stroke while taking the pill -- however the risk is reduced or disappears after discontinuation.
Reduce stress as much as possible. Any type of stress, including job stress, can make it more likely. Stress at work is a cause that most people do not consider.
Reduce the use of NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Supplements or herbs that may be helpful to prevent stroke
Discuss with your doctor before making any changes to your regimen. Do not use natural blood thinners if you have had a hemorrhagic stroke.
Findings suggest that increased folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin E, C intake may be associated with decreased risk of stroke. Int J Preventive Med. 2013. B Vitamins and Antioxidants Intake is Negatively Correlated with Risk of Stroke in Iran.
Fish oils help thin the blood and improve circulation. Those who are vegetarian could instead take DHA which comes from algae. Krill oil is another option.
Ginkgo biloba improves circulation and thins the blood. Limit dosage to 40 mg a few times a week.
Vinpocetine acts as a vasodilator and allow more oxygen to be available for brain tissue. Limit dosage to 5 mg a few times a week.
Magnesium mineral could be of benefit.
Multivitamins with Vitamins B6, B12, and Folic Acid
B Vitamins and stroke
A high-dose vitamin supplement may help reduce the risk of a second stroke, as well as death and cardiac events, according to a study published in the November 2005 issue of the journal Stroke. The supplement consisted of vitamins B9 (folate), B6, and B12, which are known to reduce blood levels of homocysteine -- an amino acid linked to heart disease. In a previous report from the Vitamin Intervention for Stroke Prevention (VISP) study group, the combined vitamin therapy did not reduce recurrent stroke and cardiac events, but it turned out that the trial included patients who were not likely to benefit from the treatment. The VISP trial included patients with deficiency of vitamin B12 who were unlikely to respond to our treatment, as well as patients with renal failure, who would not respond as well to vitamin therapy. When the scientists re-analyzed the results in a subgroup of 2,155 subjects deemed most likely to respond to treatment, the combined vitamin therapy did appear to have a beneficial effect on recurrence of stroke and cardiac events. Specifically, the team compared results of low-dose vitamin versus high-dose vitamin therapy and found that high-dose vitamin supplements reduced recurrent stroke, death and heart disease by 21 percent. When they subdivided patients by baseline levels of vitamin B12, thus identifying those with difficulties absorbing the vitamin, the differences between the low-dose and high-dose groups became greater. In the modern age in which grains are fortified with folate, the response to vitamin therapy for lowering homocysteine largely depends on B12 levels of the patients. Higher doses of B12, in addition to other therapies, will be required to reduce homocysteine, and thus to reduce stroke and the combined end point of stroke, death, and heart attack.
