Supporting the Women in our Lives: Stroke Prevention

May is Stroke Awareness Month and May 10-16th is National Women's Health Week, making this the perfect time to talk about the special challenges women face related to stroke and how women can reduce their risk and protect their health. Being the mid-Atlantic Regional Health Administrator might make stroke prevention my professional duty, but it's my role as a father, husband, and son to so many special women that makes it my personal responsibility. It's alarming to think that every 4 minutes someone in the United States dies of a stroke -- most of them women. Stroke -- which is sometimes called a brain attack -- happens when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This serious health condition can also lead to life-changing complications and long-term disability. Although anyone can have a stroke at any age, women are more likely than men to have a stroke and to die from it. There are a few simple education and healthy lifestyle changes that I encourage my wife and daughters to live by, and that all girls and women can follow to reduce their risk of stroke: Know your family history: Women have unique risk factors for stroke. Some, like heredity, age, gender, and ethnicity can't be controlled, but knowing these risks related to these factors helps my wife and I appropriately educate ourselves and our daughters about preventing stroke. Be physically active. Every morning, my wife and I start the day with physical activity,...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news