Stroke Risks Factors You Can Control

Approximately 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stoke each year and is the leading cause of serious, long-term disabilities.  In addition strokes result in more than 140,000 deaths annually.  Seniors are at the most risk for strokes as 75% of them occur in adults over the age of 65.  However the good news is the majority of strokes are preventable.  According to the American Stroke Association, there are several risks factors you can “control, treat and improve.”   

High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for a stroke as well as one of the most controllable.  In fact doctors attribute the current decline in stroke-related deaths to today’s effective high blood pressure treatments and medications.

Another significant risk factor you can control is to stop smoking.  Nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke causes damage to the cardiovascular system and increases the likelihood of a stroke.  In addition diabetes, cholesterol, a poor diet, obesity, excessive alcohol use, and heart disease can also increase your risk for a stroke. 

Uncontrollable risk factors include genetics, age and gender.  Furthermore while more men suffer from strokes, they are more deadly for women.   

Everyone should be familiar with the signs of a stroke.  The American Stroke Association using the word “FAST” to help us spot the signs and remember what to do.  “F” stands for face dropping, “A” stands for arm weakness, “S” for speech difficultly, and “T” for its time to call 911. 

As one of the best assisted living and memory care communities in Colorado Springs, MorningStar at Mountain Shadows provides nutritional, tasty meals and a whole range of wellness programs and activities.  Our life enrichment programs are designed to enhance the intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual wellbeing of our residents.   Please visit our website to learn more about our beautiful community. 

At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, we represent the very best in senior living with a unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents at the foot of the majestic Rockies.  Please schedule a visit to experience firsthand our beautiful senior living community.   


Source: strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/UnderstandingRisk/Understanding-Stroke-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp   

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