Brain Attack (formerly known as Stroke)

Did you know that brain attack (stroke) is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S.? Main cause is heart attack, 2nd is cancer, 3rd is stroke. Don't think it can't happen to you.

Nonmodifiable risk factors (you can't do anything about them):
Heredity, Gender, Age (older usually), Race (African-American, Asian), Diabetis Mellitus, Artheroscerosis.

Here are risk factors you can control:
Hypertension: HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE LEADING CAUSE!
Obesity, SMOKING, Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), Heavy ETOH (alcohol) intake, Physical inactivity, Cocaine abuse, Carotid stenosis (occlusion in carotid arteries-plaque), oral contraceptives (thicken the blood), and atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat.)

If you have more than one factor here, especially modifiable you might want to rethink your lifestyle. I'm not saying I'm perfect, I'm just learning this stuff and though you'd want to know. It's pretty scary if you think about it.

Here's how to decrease your chances: Control B/P to below 120/80. Stop smoking. Exercise as noted below. Maintain ideal body weight. > 50 years old should take a baby asparin q day. Eat fish 2-3x a week. Don't take B.C. if you smoke. < ETOH. Take Vit. E and B. < your salt intake.

Now exercise is considered to be adequate at 30-60 minutes 5-6 days per week. Guess I really need to work on that one :)