Arbor Health | Arbor Health and Life | Spring 2020

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. Kevin McCurry, MD, reminds us that this is the leading cause of all strokes— most people who have a first stroke have blood pressure that is too high. TAKE CHARGE: High blood pressure rarely causes symptoms. So get yours checked regularly. And if it’s high—now defined by the American Heart Association as 130/80 mm Hg—work with your doctor to bring it down to a healthy level. Steps like this can help: Eat a well-balanced, salt-smart diet. Focus on fruits and vegeta- bles, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, and nuts and legumes. Avoid palm and coconut oils. And cut down on salt, which can raise blood pressure. Most of the salt we eat comes from processed foods, such as canned goods and soup. So check labels to see how much sodium—an ingredient in salt—a food has before buying it. If you have high blood pressure, you may need to eat even less sodium. Know the risks of alcohol. Drinking too much makes blood pressure climb. Move more. Aim to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moder- ately intense aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, each week. If that seems like a lot, know that any exercise is better than none. For safety’s sake, check with your doctor before significantly increasing your activity level. Watch your weight. As your weight creeps up, so can your stroke risk. Take any blood pressure medicine exactly as prescribed. But re- member: Medicine is never a substitute for any lifestyle changes your doctor also advises. ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AFIB). Tom Anderson, MD, extends the caution that this irregular heartbeat significantly raises your stroke risk. If you have it, you’re five times more likely to have a stroke than some- one without it. TAKE CHARGE: Many people with AFib have no noticeable symptoms. But you might notice a racing, fluttering or irregular heartbeat, or you may be short of breath or feel light-headed. If so, tell your doctor. If he or she does diagnose AFib, you may need anti-coagulant medicine or other treatments to reduce your stroke risk. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for AFib. So keeping your blood pres- sure in a healthy range can also help prevent AFib. D I D YOU K NOW S T R O K E I S T H E F I F T H L E A D I N G C A U S E O F D E AT H I N T H E U . S . ? The No. controllable risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. 1 25 % people in the U.S. have a stroke every year. 795,000 MORE THAN EVERY 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke. of strokes happen in people who’ve had a stroke before. NEARLY About of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked. 87 % Tom Anderson, MD General Surgeon and Emergency Physician Kevin McCurry, MD Chief Medical Officer Additional sources: American Stroke Association; National Institutes of Health MYARBORHEALTH.ORG 4