The American Stroke Association, part of the American Heart Association, released updated guidelines Monday showing that up to 80% of strokes can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices, better blood pressure control and other medical interventions. .
The recommendations emphasize a Mediterranean diet, regular physical activity, and close monitoring of high-risk groups, including women and transgender people.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death in Israel, affecting approximately 20,000 people each year and often causing severe disability and death. The latest guidelines, the first in 10 years, say most strokes can be avoided with preventive measures.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is suddenly cut off, usually due to a blood clot or bleeding. This lack of oxygen and nutrients causes rapid death of brain cells, making it important to seek medical attention immediately.
Symptoms include sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty speaking, loss of vision, loss of balance, and severe headache. In such cases, it is important to contact Magen David Adom 101 and rush to the hospital for a CT scan and emergency treatment. Stroke (Example) (Credit: INGIMAGE)
New guidelines emphasize that most strokes are preventable through lifestyle changes. “These guidelines are an important update based on recent research that has identified key factors to reduce stroke risk,” says Professor Ronen Reker, President of the Israel Stroke Association and Director of the Stroke Center at Hadassah Medical Center. .
They adopt a Mediterranean diet rich in nuts and olive oil, which has been proven to lower the risk of stroke, as well as regular physical therapy to break up the sedentary lifestyle common in Western countries. We encourage activities.
silent killer
Control of high blood pressure is also an important factor. Studies show that with a single antihypertensive drug, only about 30% of patients reach their goals. Most patients require a combination of two or three drugs to achieve the desired results. Based on this data, guidelines recommend the use of at least two drugs for most patients requiring hypertension treatment.
Special recommendations are also made for women, especially those who are pregnant, have experienced early menopause, or suffer from endometriosis, as these conditions increase the risk of stroke. For transgender women, the guidelines emphasize that hormone therapy, including estrogen, increases the risk of stroke and requires close medical supervision.
“Rapid treatment, such as a CT scan performed within 25 minutes of patient arrival, followed by thrombolytics and brain catheterization, has been shown to save lives and reduce disability,” Professor Reker said. added. “However, these new guidelines focus on prevention and aim to completely prevent stroke through proactive care that family physicians should prioritize.”
