If you live an active lifestyle, congratulations: That’s one of the best things you can do to prevent a stroke.

Numerous studies have shown that regular exercise is associated with a significant drop in stroke risk for adults. If you are obese and live a sedentary lifestyle, you are more likely to have poor cardiovascular health – putting yourself at greater risk for suffering a stroke.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke every three minutes, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. May is National Stroke Awareness Month.

Blake Medical Center is a certified Primary Stroke Center, meaning we comply with the highest national standards for safety and quality care in the rapid-response and treatment of acute stroke patients. Stroke accreditation by the Joint Commission is regarded as the “gold standard” for excellence in stroke care, a distinction of which we’re proud.

It’s our job to not only provide top-notch quality care, but also educate the community we serve about strokes. We have articles and much more information for you on our website about our stroke program, strokes, stroke prevention, caring for strokes, and stroke rehabilitation.

We recommend you do at least 30 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise most days of the week to reduce your risk for stroke or a recurrence if you’ve had one (and there is evidence that regular exercise improves stroke recovery and survival rates).

Consult a doctor before starting any new exercise program. If you need help finding a doctor or have any questions about strokes or the recommendations here, contact our free Consult-A-Nurse ® healthcare referral service 24/7. Our nurses will answer your questions.

If you receive the doctor’s approval, begin a gradual, sensible exercise program that’s right for you and your needs. You can break down the exercise into 10 to 15 minute sessions – just make sure to stick to a regular routine. It’s true – you’ll see more benefits being active regularly for longer periods and at greater intensity. Just be careful – do what’s right for you, don’t overdo it.

Aerobic exercise is so good for stroke prevention because it stops clots that can cause a stroke by preventing the buildup of plaque in blood vessels. It increases your endurance and strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Some examples of intense aerobic exercise are: brisk walking, hiking, stair-climbing, jogging, running, bicycling, rowing, swimming, and activities like Ultimate Frisbee or basketball that include continuous running.

Some examples of moderate aerobic exercise are: yard work, housework, dancing, walking for pleasure, and recreational activities like tennis, golf or racquetball.

Symptoms of Stroke

If you notice any of the symptoms below, call 9-1-1 right away. Symptoms occur suddenly and differ depending on the part of the brain affected. Also, multiple symptoms can happen at the same time.

• Sudden weakness or numbness of face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden confusion
• Sudden trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance, or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

More than half of Americans don’t know where the closest stroke-certified hospitals are, according to the American Stroke Association. In Manatee County, you don’t have to go far, Blake Medical Center is a certified Primary Stroke Center. But if you don’t know how to recognize the symptoms it’s impossible to act quickly.

If you or someone you know has one or more of the follow signs of stroke, don’t delay and call 911 immediately:

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the arm, face or leg, especially if it’s on one side of the body.
• Sudden vision trouble in one or both eyes
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
• Sudden dizziness, trouble walking or loss or balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headaches without cause

It’s also important to check the time the symptoms first started because a clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), if administered within three hours, can potentially reduce long-term disabilities for the most common type of stroke.

A TIA or transient ischemic attack, or “mini-stroke,” typically produces the same symptoms, only temporarily. Recognizing the signs and getting treated immediately can reduce your risk of a major stroke.

The National Stroke Association recommends you act F.A.S.T. if you think someone may be having a stroke.

FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of his or her face droop?

ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Can he or she repeat it correctly, or are the words slurred?

TIME: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is critical. Call 911 immediately.

Blake Medical Center’s Stroke Program is a certified Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, meaning we comply with the highest national standards for safety and quality care in the rapid-response and treatment of acute stroke patients. For more information log onto our website at www.BlakeMedicalCenter.com or call 1-888-359-3552.

May is National Stroke Awareness Month.  You may already know stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, but did you know up to 80% of all strokes are preventable, according to the National Stroke Association.  One of the keys to preventing stroke and other heart problems is adjusting your diet. 

1. Know how many calories you eat: Don’t eat more calories than you burn every day.  Increase your amount of physical activity to match the number of calories you consume.
2. Eat a variety of nutritious foods:  Many of us may be eating enough food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.  Be sure to choose vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, lean meats and unrefined whole grain foods.
3. Enjoy a lower fat diet:  Select fat-free, 1 percent fat and low-fat dairy products.  Prepare poultry without skin and lean meats without adding saturated or trans fat.  Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
4. Put down the salt shaker:  Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt.  Try to eat less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day.  You may be able to lower your risk for high blood pressure, and ultimately for stroke.
5. If you drink alcohol, moderation is key:  Studies show drinking up to two alcoholic drinks per day could reduce your risk for stroke by half, but more than that each day can increase your risk by as much as three times and can also lead to liver disease, accidents and more.  If you drink, keep your limit to two or less a day, and if you don’t drink, don’t start.
6. Keep an eye on portion sizes:  Eating smaller portions several times a day can help in weight loss or maintenance and increase your metabolism.  Pay close attention to the portion sizes particularly when you are eating out a restaurant. 
7. Take charge of cholesterol: Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol.  Try to eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily.  Also if you don’t know your cholesterol levels, contact a healthcare provider to schedule a screening.

 Blake Medical Center is a certified Primary Stroke Center.  For more information, call 1-888-359-3552. 

Did Mona Lisa have high cholesterol?  Media organizations around the world, including Time, are reporting an Italian medical expert believes the famous smile was probably the result of fatty acids accumulated around her left eye.

While we may never know for sure if the subject of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece had high cholesterol or not, the rest of us need to know if we do.

“High Cholesterol has no symptoms.   So that means you don’t have to worry about it then, right?  ABSOLUTELY false,” Blake Medical Center’s Vice President of Cardiovascular Services Donna Disbro said.  “Even though high cholesterol is silent, it can potentially result in a heart attack or stroke.”

Several factors can increase your risk of having high cholesterol including age, family history, obesity, a high-fat diet, a sedentary lifestyle and excessive alcohol intake.

Here are five tips to help lower your cholesterol:

• Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet.  Before starting any diet, consult your doctor about the best plan for you.
• Avoid processed foods, refined sugars and starches (white bread, white potatoes, white rice and simple sugars).
• If you are overweight, lose weight.
• Exercise regularly.  If you don’t, begin a safe program with the advice of your doctor.
• If you smoke, quit.

“Knowing your cholesterol levels and addressing these levels can help you avoid heart disease and other complications later in life,” Disbro added.

Blake Medical Center is offering free screenings on Thursday, February 11 in the hospital’s Dolphin Pelican Room.

The screenings include:

• Cholesterol & Lipid Panel
• Glucose
• Blood Pressure

Call 1-888-359-3552 to make your appointment now. Fasting is required. 

Other screening dates include:

• April 23
• June 10
• September 16
• December 9

If you have questions about high cholesterol, call our free Consult-A-Nurse hotline at 1-888-359-3552.  Or for more information about Blake Medical Center, visit our website at www.blakemedicalcenter.com.