Ten years ago, 38 % of strokes touched people under the age of 65. And the trend is “accentuated, especially because of diabetes and heart disease in young adults. The good news? Simple gestures on awakening can considerably reduce this risk, according to Dr. Christie Mr. Ballantyne, cardiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Heart Institute.
Take your treatments and watch your tension
If you have a treatment for hypertension or cholesterol, don’t forget! The good idea? Keep your treatment in a pill on your sink, next to your toothbrush.
“Optimal blood pressure, if you have a high risk, is less than 120”recalls Dr. Ballantyne. Keeping an eye on your treatment, but also on your self -modee is far from superficial.
Relax … or set off someone
A few minutes of meditation or inspiring reading can reduce blood pressure. A simple hug, with a loved one or even an animal, also helps to lower cortisol. And if you are not tactile, an SMS or a call to a friend may be enough to decrease stress.
Beware of sweeteners in the cafe
Morning coffee is not to be banished, as long as you limit your caffeine consumption to less than 400 mg (about 4 cups of coffee). But avoid artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol or xylitol, linked to an increased risk of blood clots and stroke. It is therefore better to avoid them
Move as soon as you wake up!
No need for intense session: Walk, take the stairs, park later … the lens? Reach at least 7,000 steps a day. Prolonged inactivity is indeed a proven risk factor. Intrusting in the morning allows you to get ahead of these steps!
Avoid cigarettes… and vape
Smoking remains one of the worst behaviors for vascular health. And vaping is not an harmless alternative. “”These substances pass directly through your blood circulation “alerts Dr. Ballantyne. Starting your day with a cigarette is therefore the worst habits for your cardiovascular health.
Opt for a balanced breakfast
Finally, Dr. Ballantyne recommends a simple mixture: white cheese, fresh fruit and flax seeds, rich in omega-3 and fiber. Of course, there are many other balanced breakfast options. The most important thing, according to the expert, is to monitor food from breakfast rich in added sugars, which could increase the risk of diabetes, another major risk factor.
Stroke: recognize signs and react quickly
Do you know how to expose yourself to a risk? Note that a stroke can be ischemic (80 % of cases, caused by a clot) or hemorrhagic (20 %, following a breaking of artery). In both cases, every minute counts.
Professor Sonia Alamowitch (French Neurovascular Society) also recalled it in a previous article: “Each minute of interruption of blood circulation results in the death of 2 million neurons”. And add: “Existing treatments are only effective a few hours after the symptoms start, as long as lesions are not too extensive.”
For benchmark, a stroke manifests itself by “The brutal installation of a loss of neurological functions”,, that can affect:
- Movement: “”A paralysis that affects half of the body, or hemiplegia“;
- Sensitivity: “”We no longer feel a significant part of our body“;
- Language: “”An inability to express themselves or understand“;
- Vision: “”A sudden loss of vision on one side“.
In case of meningeal hemorrhage, a typical symptom must alert: “An extremely brutal, violent and unusual headache“Insists the neurologist.
Too many patients are slow to call for help. Yet, “The reaction in the first minutes, the first hours is what allows us to treat patients as soon as possible”alerts Professor Alamowitch. “You must immediately contact the SAMU by making up the 15th”.
Fast: the acronym to remember
Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor, recalls the mnemonic tool Fast To detect a stroke:
- F For Face : facial paralysis;
- HAS For Arm : weakness of an arm;
- S For Speech : speech disorders;
- T For Time : time is counted.
Even if the symptoms disappear, do not wait: every second can save a life.