May is Stroke Awareness Month! According to CDC.gov, "more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year" and "80% of strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle changes." Changes include:
-
Lowering blood pressure. According to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, "lowering blood pressure by 5 mmHg diastolic reduces the risk of stroke by an estimated 34% and ischaemic heart disease by 21%."
-
Maintaining a healthy diet. Eat foods rich in potassium, fiber, low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Foods include fruits, vegetables, fish, whole grain and low-fat dairy.
-
Staying physically active. The Surgeon General recommends moderate-intensity physical activity, like brisk walking, for 2 hours and 30 minutes each week.
-
Limiting alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol use increases blood pressure which can increase chances of having a stroke.
-
Stop smoking. Smoking increases the chance of having a stroke.
Interim HealthCare specializes providing in-home care for patients with Hypertension/High Blood Pressure. Call us for an in-home consultation at 561-616-9500.
