Luke Perry dying of a massive stroke shocked many people. He was a beloved actor known for his roles in 90210 and more recently in the series Riverdale. It is hard to believe someone at the age of 52 would die of a stroke, especially when no outward cause seemed to exist.
While strokes are more prevalent among seniors, according to WebMD, as many as 10% of all strokes in the United States happen to people under the age of 45. High blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and cigarette smoking are often risk factors for strokes in younger people. Also it is vital to eliminate stress and hostility in your life, because research shows these factors can raise blood pressure.
Yet, these factors also put people of any age at risk.
Take Care of Your Health
While none of the usual risk factors seemed apparent in the death of Luke Perry, his untimely death has made people more aware of their health. Busy business people are often in a rush and do not take care of themselves. All too often high demands lead to putting yourself last and your health can suffer for it. It’s wise to live a healthy lifestyle.
Stroke Prevention — Actions You Can Take
According to Harvard Medical School, the following actions can help you avoid a stroke:
- Quit smoking. Smoking thickens the blood and increases plaque buildup in the arteries. These two factors make smokers more prone to developing blood clots, which is what causes strokes.
- Lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is the greatest contributor but there are ways of treating high blood pressure. Doctors suggest reducing salt intake, avoiding high cholesterol foods, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and getting exercise to lower blood pressure. Also, smokers should quit smoking.
Quit smoking. Smoking thickens the blood and increases plaque buildup in the arteries. These two factors make smokers more prone to developing blood clots, which is what causes strokes.
Lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is the greatest contributor but there are ways of treating high blood pressure. Doctors suggest reducing salt intake, avoiding high cholesterol foods, eating lots of fruits and vegetables and getting exercise to lower blood pressure. Also, smokers should quit smoking.
- Lose weight. Obesity is often related to high blood pressure and diabetes, and these two factors alone can put someone at risk. The best way to lose weight is to reduce calorie intake and increase exercise.
- Drink only in moderation. Drinking one alcoholic beverage a day may lower risk, but drinking two or more drinks a day increases the risk. Wine should be the first choice of alcohol because it contains a substance thought to protect the heart and brain. Beverage sizes would be five ounces for a glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer and a 1.5 ounce glass of hard liquor.
- Exercise. Moderate exercise at least five days a week helps reduce blood pressure and keeps you fit. The recommended exercise time is 30 minutes a day. If you can’t do it in one stretch, you can divide the time into 10 or 15-minute intervals.
- Treat physical conditions. If you have diabetes, you should receive treatment. Diabetes can harm blood vessels, which can eventually put you at risk for blood clots. Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) is also very important to treat because it can lead to blood clots.