For the first time in a decade, the American Stroke Association has revised its guidelines for stroke prevention. The newly published “2024 Guideline for the Primary Prevention of Stroke,” featured in the journal Stroke, aims to empower individuals to take measures to reduce their stroke risk. Stroke is currently the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most strokes occur in older adults, but there has been a notable increase of about 15% in the stroke rate among Americans aged 18 to 65 between 2011 and 2022, as reported by the CDC.
Various factors, including both uncontrollable and lifestyle-dependent ones, can increase susceptibility to strokes. However, making certain lifestyle changes can help lower this risk.
Some stroke risk factors cannot be controlled, particularly in women. Nevertheless, the American Stroke Association highlights several key health behaviors known as Life’s Essential 8 cardiovascular health metrics, which are associated with stroke risks. The new guidelines recommend adopting the following lifestyle behaviors to mitigate these risk factors:
- Adopting a Mediterranean diet, which mainly comprises fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, whole grains, and olive oil, along with minimal consumption of dairy, eggs, fish, and poultry.
- Engaging in at least 150 minutes weekly of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes weekly of vigorous aerobic activity, or a combination of both, spread throughout the week.
- Ensuring adequate sleep.
- Avoiding smoking.
- Monitoring cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, and maintaining them within healthy ranges.
Recognizing the symptoms of a stroke is also crucial for obtaining prompt assistance. The American Stroke Association uses the acronym F.A.S.T. to identify warning signs:
- F for Face Drooping: Checking if one side of the face is drooping or numb.
- A for Arm Weakness: Assessing if one arm is weak or numb.
- S for Speech Difficulty: Noting if speech is slurred.
- T for Time to call 911: Understanding that stroke is an emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
Additional symptoms of stroke may include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, particularly on one side of the body, confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, vision problems in one or both eyes, difficulty walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache with no known cause.
