Stroke, also known as “cerebrovascular accident”, is a very common disease, especially among the elderly, and the incidence rate is still high. However, many studies have shown that at least 80% of strokes can be prevented, and over 90% of risk factors can be controlled by human intervention! So, how can middle-aged and elderly people prevent stroke in their daily lives? I often share some suggestions with my elderly friends, and now I will introduce them to everyone.
What are the harms of stroke?
When it comes to stroke, many people may have only heard of its name, but do not know the specific harms it can cause to the body. Stroke can usually be divided into ischemic and hemorrhagic types. Ischemic stroke can result in dysfunction of the affected brain area, manifested as sensory or motor disorders, while hemorrhagic stroke usually presents as severe headache. Whether it is hemorrhagic stroke or ischemic stroke, it is disastrous to the central nervous system of the human body. Severe cases can result in coma, respiratory infections or death. Even if it does not cause death, it can still cause varying degrees of damage to the brain, such as paralysis, loss of speech ability, unclear speech, severe intellectual decline, and other sequelae, which are a great disaster for patients and their families.
How to prevent stroke and stroke recurrence? Pay attention to these aspects:
The harm of stroke is significant, but if preventive measures are taken in daily life, it is possible to largely avoid “encounters” with stroke. For those who are prone to stroke, the following points should be noted for stroke prevention in daily life:
1. Engage in moderate physical exercise, such as practicing tai chi, Ba Duan Jin, qigong, and simple walking to promote blood circulation in the body.
2. Regulate emotions, try to have an open mind, avoid being overly calculative or overly concerned, and maintain a positive and optimistic attitude.
3. Have a diverse diet, but also pay attention to moderation, with a preference for light and healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits, maintain regular bowel movements, and limit intake of fatty, sweet, and heavy foods, as well as quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption.
If unfortunately suffering from a stroke, due to its high tendency for recurrence and the fact that recurrent strokes are often more severe than the initial event, it is of great significance to take preventive measures in daily life. In daily life, one should try to avoid risk factors and learn from some measures of Western medicine to actively control risk factors for stroke such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, quit smoking, limit alcohol intake, and control body weight in order to reduce the recurrence of cerebrovascular diseases.
In addition, in terms of daily life care, for patients in the recovery period, family members should take good care of the patient’s daily needs and rehabilitation. Nursing care should be patient and meticulous, following the doctor’s advice. For patients with physical paralysis and bedridden, regular turning should be done to keep clothing and bedding dry and tidy, and actively help stroke patients with massage on compressed skin to improve local blood circulation and prevent pressure ulcers. For patients with language disorders after stroke, family members and caregivers should communicate and interact with the patient more frequently to promote the recovery of the patient’s language function.
The occurrence of stroke is not accidental, and the development of the disease is always related to our daily habits and physical condition. If middle-aged and elderly individuals want to avoid the “minefield” of stroke, they should take preventive measures in daily life, avoid risk factors for stroke, improve their quality of life, and enjoy their later years in good health.