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Neurology: How to Reduce Your Risk for Stroke

By following these important stroke prevention guidelines, you can help minimize your risk of a brain attack:

Blood pressure.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly to insure that it's less than 140/90 (and less than 130/80 if you have diabetes). Take any blood pressure medicines exactly as directed by your doctor.

If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor about the drug losartan for stroke prevention. Your doctor will need to check your electrocardiogram for a specific electrocardiogram abnormality: left ventricular hypertrophy. The FDA has approved CozaarŪ (losartan potassium) to prevent stroke in patients with left ventricluar hypertrophy and high blood pressure. One stroke and one new diagnosis of diabetes is prevented for every 50 patients who are on losartan and have high blood pressure with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Losartan blood pressure management is not for everyone. We encourage you to discuss losartan with your doctor to see if it can help reduce your risk of stroke. It may be helpful to give your doctor a copy of this printed page and a printed copy of this link to a news release describing the FDA's approval of losartan for stroke prevention for patients like you.
http://www.merck.com/newsroom/press_releases/032603.html

Ask your Doctor about ramipril for stroke prevention if:

• you have any one of the following diseases: heart attack, inadequate circulation in the legs or diabetes AND;
• you have any one of the following risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, history of smoking, kidney disease

One stroke is prevented for every 67 patients started on Ramipril who meet the above criteria.

Ramipril is not for everyone. We encourage you to discuss its benefits with your doctor to see if Ramipril is an appropriate therapy for lowering your risk of stroke and heart attack.

Atrial Fibrillation

Find out if you have an irregular pulse and work with your doctor to manage it. Some types of irregular pulse can allow blood clots to form and make stroke more likely.

Smoking

If you smoke, stop. Smoking hardens the walls of arteries and increases the risk of stroke.

Alcohol

If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Studies show that light to moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower stroke risk, drinking much more than two drinks per day can increase your stroke risk. ("Moderate consumption" defined as daily consumption of no more than 8 oz. of wine, 24 oz. of beer or 3 oz. of liquor.)

Cholesterol

Find out if you have high cholesterol and control it. High levels of cholesterol in the blood promote hardening of the arteries and increase the risk of stroke.

Diabetes

If you are diabetic, follow your doctor's recommendations carefully to control your diabetes.

Exercise

Get at least thirty minutes daily of moderate intensity physical activity. For example, a brisk walk at a 15-20 minute per mile pace. Moderate intensity walking is associated with a decline in the risk of stroke of 29% to 44% compared to a lack of daily walking.

Healthy Diet

• Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet.
• A daily diet of 1 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables - excluding potatoes - associated with up to 69% reduction of the risk of stroke compared to a daily diet lacking these fruits and vegetables.
• A daily diet of 1.5 servings of whole grain foods is associated with a 43% reduction in the odds of suffering a stroke compared to a daily diet lacking whole grain foods. Common whole grain foods are dark breads, breakfast cereals with 25% or more whole grain content, popcorn, oatmeal, wheat germ and brown rice.
• Consume fish at least once a month.

If you currently do not have a primary care physician, please contact our Physician Referral Line at 630-856-7525 to be referred to a physician in your area.