One of the things that adult children of senior parents worry about is the chance of their parent having a stroke. Stroke can be debilitating, leading to the inability to walk, talk, or use the hands or arms. If you’re concerned about your parent’s risk for stroke, knowing more about stroke and its risk factors could allay your fears or allow you to help your parent reduce their risk.
Senior Care Macungie PA – How Likely is Your Parent to Have a Stroke?Stroke Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of every 20 deaths in the United States is related to stroke. Stroke kills 140,000 Americans every year. Here are some other stroke statistics:
- Every 40 seconds, an American has a stroke.
- There are 610,000 incidences of a first stroke per year.
- One of every four strokes happens in someone who has had a stroke before.
- Stroke affects the mobility of approximately half of all stroke survivors who are aged 65 or older.
- African Americans are at almost double the risk for a first stroke as Caucasians.
Risk Factors for Stroke
Those statistics are certainly startling, but the good news is that many of the risk factors for stroke are controllable. Some of the risk factors for stroke are:
- High blood pressure.
- Obesity.
- Smoking.
- High cholesterol.
- Poor diet.
- Diabetes.
- Heart disease.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Atrial fibrillation.
Reducing Stroke Risk
If you recognize some of the above factors as being present in your parent, there are ways that you can help them to reduce their risk, such as:
Dietary Changes: Changing the way your parent eats can make a big difference in their stroke risk and in their overall health. A healthy diet can help your parent to lose excess weight, lower blood pressure, and reduce cholesterol levels. If your parent has difficulty cooking, a senior care provider can assist with making healthy meals and snacks.
Exercise: The American Stroke Association recommends people get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. The physical activity doesn’t need to be structured exercise. Any type of movement counts. A senior care provider can go for walks with your parent or help them to do other physical activities, like gardening.
Monitor Blood Pressure: Blood pressure checks are an important part of reducing stroke risks. Being aware of their blood pressure numbers can help seniors to focus on taking steps to lower it, including seeking medical attention.
Quit Smoking: It’s never too late to quit smoking. If your parent needs assistance to quit, a doctor can help them with a smoking cessation program.
Stroke is an issue that all seniors and their family caregivers should be aware of. Understanding the risk factors allows them to address problem areas and talk to a doctor about how they can improve their overall health.
Sources:https://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/UnderstandingRisk/Understanding-Stroke-Risk_UCM_308539_SubHomePage.jsp
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/stroke/atrisk
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm
http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/LifeAfterStroke/HealthyLivingAfterStroke/UnderstandingRiskyConditions/What-You-Can-Do-To-Reduce-Your-Stroke-Risk_UCM_310279_Article.jsp#.WgYwVGhSzIU
If you or an aging loved one are in need of Senior Care Services in Macungie PA or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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