Every person over the age of 35 should have the following risk factors rated and prevented.
1. Know your blood pressure
Measure it at least once a year. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to control it in the normal range. Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to cerebrovascular disease. You can have your blood pressure checked at a hospital, community, pharmacy, or at home with an automatic blood pressure monitor. If your high pressure (systolic) is consistently greater than 135 mmHg and your low pressure (diastolic) is consistently greater than 85 mmHg, see your doctor. If your doctor confirms that you have high blood pressure, he may recommend changes in your poor diet, proper exercise and medication. Medications to control high blood pressure have improved dramatically. Once you and your doctor have found the right medication for you, there are few side effects and it will not affect your quality of life.
2. Know if you have atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat that alters the normal function of the heart and makes it easier for certain components of the blood to collect in the atria. The irregular heartbeat causes these components to fall off and flow throughout the body with the blood, causing cerebrovascular disease. Doctors can diagnose atrial fibrillation by counting the pulse. In the hospital, atrial fibrillation can be confirmed and ruled out by an electrocardiogram. If you have atrial fibrillation, to reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease, your doctor will usually have you take some oral medications such as warfarin and aspirin.
3. If you smoke, quit it
Smoking doubles the risk of cerebrovascular disease. If you start quitting today, your risk of cerebrovascular disease will begin to drop immediately.
4.If you drink alcohol, keep it moderate
Current research shows that drinking 50ml of white wine a day can reduce cerebrovascular disease by 50%. But more than 50ml increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease by 3 times and leads to liver disease, traffic accidents and more. If you drink alcohol and find it very difficult to stop drinking, pay attention to the following points.
(1) Don’t drink too much. Determine an appropriate amount (for example, 1 beer or 1 small glass of white wine) and follow it carefully.
(2) Drinking at home is easier to control the amount than drinking outside.
(3) Determine 2 to 3 days a week when you will not drink alcohol.
(4) Choose protein-rich dishes such as fish to drink.
(5) Do not drink continuously, but drink some water or tea
to reduce the amount of alcohol intake. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t try it! Remember that alcohol is also medicine, and it can interact with some drugs and affect their absorption. It is best to ask your doctor or pharmacist if the medication you are taking interacts with alcohol.
5. Know if you have high cholesterol
Know the indicator of your cholesterol. If your cholesterol is high, you are at increased risk for cerebrovascular disease. Lowering elevated cholesterol will lower the risk of cerebrovascular disease. High cholesterol can be controlled with a moderate diet and exercise. Some people also need medication.
6.If you have diabetes
Listen carefully to your physician’s advice to control your blood sugar. Diabetes can be controlled if you pay careful attention to what you eat and drink. Work with your doctor to develop a nutrition plan that fits your needs and lifestyle. Your doctor may change some of your poor lifestyle and prescribe medications to help you control your blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease and controlled blood sugar decreases the risk of cerebrovascular disease.
7. Regularly participate in your favorite physical activities in your daily life
Walking briskly for at least 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways and can also reduce cerebrovascular disease. Exercising with a friend can make it easier for you to keep up. If you don’t like to walk, choose another sport that fits your lifestyle: cycling, golfing, swimming, dancing, ping pong or any kind of aerobic activity. Make sure you have some time to be active every day.
8. Enjoy a low-salt, low-fat diet
By reducing the intake of salt and fat in your diet, you can lower your blood pressure and, more importantly, reduce the risk of cerebrovascular disease. Maintain a balanced diet each day: adequate fruits, vegetables, cereals, and moderate amounts of protein. Adding fiber such as whole wheat bread and cereal products, raw, unpeeled fruits and vegetables, and dried beans can reduce cholesterol by 6 to 19 percent.
9. Ask your doctor if you have a circulatory disorder, which can increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease
Cerebrovascular disease can be caused by problems with the heart (pump), arteries and veins (pipes) and the blood flowing through them. Together, these make up the circulatory system. Your doctor can detect problems with the circulatory system that supplies your brain by examining it. Fatty deposits DD caused by atherosclerosis DD can block arteries so that blood cannot be transported from the heart to the brain. These arteries are located on either side of the neck and are called the carotid and vertebral arteries. This blockage, if left untreated, can lead to cerebrovascular disease. You can have your doctor check for these problems by listening to an arterial murmur, just like you would listen to your heart, or by performing an ultrasound or MRI, which can be confirmed by a whole brain angiogram (DSA).
If you have blood problems such as sickle cell disease, severe anemia or other conditions, work with your doctor to address these problems. If left untreated, this can lead to cerebrovascular disease. Circulatory disorders can usually be treated with medications. If your doctor prescribes medications such as aspirin, warfarin, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, pentoxifylline, or other medications for circulatory disorders, take them as prescribed. Sometimes, cerebrovascular interventions, surgical procedures are also needed to address circulatory disorders such as arterial stenosis.