Avoiding a stroke is no stroke of luck
A stroke hits almost 800,000 folks a year in the U.S. That means someone, somewhere in America, has a stroke every 40 seconds, and every four minutes someone dies from it.
Why is stroke so prevalent -- and can you do anything to reduce your risk? The prevalence, according to research published in The Lancet Neurology, comes from the epidemics of obesity, elevated blood sugar, chronic inflammation, and high blood pressure -- and for some folks, a diet low in omega-6 fatty acids. In the U.S., however, folks often get too many omega-6s from meat, vegetable oils, and eggs compared to omega-3s from fatty fish and flaxseed, and that, too, can raise the risk of heart disease.
The good news is that the study found that 84% of strokes are linked to modifiable risk factors -- many of them directly in your control. An unhealthy BMI, elevated blood glucose, drinking a lot of sweetened beverages, and overexposure to high outdoor temperatures, plus lack of activity, are big risks you can reverse.
Achieving a healthy weight by eating a plant-based diet that avoids added sugars, red and processed meats, and highly processed foods also lowers your blood glucose and blood pressure! And dealing with increasingly hot temperatures by avoiding exercise outdoors midday, staying hydrated, wearing sunscreen and sun-shielding hats, and staying in air conditioning also reduces stroke risks. Add regular physical activity to that mix and read Dr. Mike's book "The Great Age Reboot" and "5 Supplements to Support Heart Health and Blood Pressure" at iHerb.com/blog for optimal protection.
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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