A stroke is a disease brought about by the clotting or rupturing of arteries in or around the brain, which can bring long-term bodily damage. Unfortunately, stroke is the fifth most common cause of death, according to the American Stroke Association. Furthermore, your risk of stroke increases as you age.
Knowing this, how do we ensure that we reduce the risk of stroke in ourselves as we reach our golden years? Do read on to learn some useful tips in reducing your risk of stroke, and in turn, increasing your quality of life in your mature years.
Managing the Risk Factors
By identifying certain medical risk factors that affect the risk of stroke, you can learn which aspects of your health you need to adjust to prevent a future stroke. Do keep a lookout for factors such as:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Blood circulation problems
If you’d like more help with identifying your areas of risk of stroke, do visit your doctor. Not only can your doctor help you to address any worrying signs, but they can also provide advice for you to continue your health journey safely.
Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes
As you reach a mature age, you may have to make sacrifices to maintain your overall health and quality of life. Such sacrifices include cutting out harmful habits from your routines, such as smoking and alcohol intake. Alcohol and nicotine are harmful substances that could increase the likeliness of blood clots in your body, possibly leading to a stroke.
To add, there are also several subtle changes you could make to your daily routine to help you along the way. These could range from healthier eating habits to engaging in light exercise. By making these minor changes, you can reap great rewards that go beyond stroke prevention, improving your overall health.
While it may be difficult to change such long-standing habits, it will be rewarding in the long run — your body will thank you! If you need more support in this journey of change, do seek help from your loved ones and medical professionals such as your doctor or dietician.
Having a Caregiver’s Help
It’s hard to age healthily alone, which is why it’s quite common for the elderly to have caregivers to help them with day-to-day tasks. In 2020, the AARP reported that more than one in five Americans are caregivers. Caregivers can either be close relatives or trained professionals, both providing support and aid to their care recipients.
Having a caretaker means your daily needs can be met more easily, including the health requirements that help you to prevent a stroke. For example, they can keep track of your medicine and food intake, and in the worst-case scenario, they can help you seek medical care immediately if you begin to show symptoms of a stroke.
Discovery Village At Sugarloaf boasts a team of dedicated members committed to improving the lives of our retirement community. Learn more about our senior living options today, we are always welcoming new additions to our retirement community!
