“People Need To Lower Their Blood Pressure”

What is stroke and how can someone recognise its symptoms? 
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke, sometimes called a "brain attack," occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off. The brain cells, deprived of the oxygen and glucose needed to survive, die. If a stroke is not caught early, permanent brain damage or death can result. There are two types of strokes, Ischemic which is caused by lack of blood flow and Hemorrhagic which results from bleeding. Both, results in parts of the brain not functioning properly. Knowing the signs of a stroke is the first step in prevention. However, the difficulty with stroke is that the signs and symptoms often appear soon after it has already occurred. Some of the warning signs may include; sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body),  loss of speech or difficulty in speaking or understanding what others say, sudden difficulties walking, loss of balance or problems with coordination, or severe headache with no known cause. Get medical help immediately if you get any of those.
What are the risk factors of stroke? 
High blood pressure, tobacco smoking, overweight, which may lead to obesity, high sugar levels in blood after the age of 30. A previous mini stroke (a stroke whose signs and symptoms last for less than 2 hours), palpitations and shortness of breathe which could be signs of a problem in the heart that may lead to formation of clots which may travel to the brain producing a stroke. Chewable like doughnuts, chips, crackers, and many other baked foods high in fats will increase cholesterol levels in the blood leading to a stroke.
How can someone prevent a stroke?
Age makes us more susceptible to having a stroke as having a mother, father or any other close relative who has had a stroke. You cannot reverse the years or change your family history, but there are many other risk factors that one can control - provided that people are aware and conscious of them?, “knowledge is power”. Here are some ways to start curbing stroke related risk factors, before it has the chance to strike. People need to lower their blood pressure because high blood is a huge factor to stroke. Monitoring the blood pressure and if it is elevated, treating it properly will keep stroke away. Keeping the blood pressure low can be achieved through salt reduction in food, avoid high cholesterol food such as burgers, cheese and ice cream. People should eat fruits and vegetables daily; do more physical exercise, and quit smoking for ...