Winter 2010 - St. Joseph's Health Care London

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If you answered yes to any of or all the above questions, you have
what’s called non-modifi able risk factors for stroke, meaning
risk factors you can’t change. It’s always good to know your family’s
health history, but be more concerned if you’ve had a prior
stroke, heart attack or TIA.
TIAs are called “warning strokes” because they produce strokelike
symptoms but no lasting damage. If you’ve had one or more TIAs,
you’re about fi ve times more likely to have a stroke over the next two
years than the general population, according to the Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Canada.
Aging also takes a toll on your arteries, increasing your chance of
having a stroke for each decade of life after 55, according to the foundation.
“As you age, your arteries become more fragile,” Senelick says.
“They are less elastic and fl exible. They become brittle. This hardening
of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. The more buildup of atherosclerosis,
the more likely these arteries are to clog or close off. If this
occurs in the brain, it will result in stroke.”
If you have one or more risk factors for stroke that can’t be changed,
don’t panic, Senelick advises. Learn the warning signs of stroke and
don’t use rationalizations such as “I’ll feel better in the morning” if they
occur. Instead, immediately dial 911 and check the time. Your healthcare
team will ask, “When did the fi rst warning sign or symptom start?”
� Do you smoke?
� Are you overweight?
� Is your favourite motto, “It’s
five o’clock somewhere”?
Smoking, overeating and excessive drinking
are the trifecta of risky health habits. Dr.
Michael D. Hill, a spokesman for the Heart
and Stroke Foundation of Canada, offers
this advice: Quit smoking, drink only in moderation,
exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week,
and modify your diet so you’re getting the minimum
fi ve servings per day of fruits and vegetables along
with whole grains, low-fat dairy and lean protein
such as skinless chicken breasts and fi sh. “Drinking
in moderation is one to two ounces of alcohol per
day,” Hill says. “You can’t save up your one drink per
day and have them all on the weekend, either. Binge
drinking is especially dangerous.”
� Do you have a parent, grandparent, sister or brother who had a stroke
before age 65?
� Have you had a prior stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack) or heart attack?
� Are you 55 or older?
Vim & Vigour · WINTER 2010