Aging and some health conditions may make seniors more susceptible to strokes. And while we can’t reverse time, we can learn how to avoid a stroke by keeping an eye on risk factors and implementing prevention strategies. Some of the most common risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking. All of these factors can be managed with medications, lifestyle changes, and health monitoring.
With the detailed risk factors and prevention tips below, we hope to help you or your senior loved one reduce risk of stroke.
Top 10 Stroke Risk Factors
Certain conditions, age, and sex may increase the risk of stroke in seniors. If you find yourself asking, “What are the risk factors of stroke?” look no further. Here are the most common risk factors for stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Diabetes leads to high blood sugar levels, which can damage blood vessels, making them prone to developing fatty deposits and clots, which can lead to a stroke.
- High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the leading cause of stroke. It can damage blood vessels and make them more susceptible to blockages or rupture, leading to a stroke•
- High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries, which could cause a stroke.
- Heart disease often increases the risk of blood clots which may increase the risk of stroke.
- Obesity can increase the risk of stroke because it often leads to inflammation caused by excess fatty tissue. It can also be caused by other increased risk factors caused by obesity, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
- Sickle cell disease causes abnormal-shaped red blood cells that can block blood vessels, which may lead to a stroke.
- Poor diet and exercise, including alcohol and tobacco use, can increase other stroke risk factors like heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
- Biological sex can be a contributing factor for stroke because women are more prone to strokes than men.
- Race or ethnicity can also play a role because Black people are almost twice as likely to have a stroke than White people.
- Genetics often play a role in many conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, sickle cell disease, and even stroke, which can increase one’s risk.
7 Stroke Prevention Tips
If you’re wondering how to reduce the risk of a stroke, it starts with lifestyle changes and managing your health conditions. Read through the detailed prevention tips below to help you or a senior loved one avoid a stroke.
1. Eat a Healthy Diet
What you eat has a direct impact on your heart and brain health, and it can affect your risk of stroke. To help prevent stroke, make sure prioritize senior nutrition and eat a healthy diet filled with the following whole, nutrient-rich foods, according to the Stroke Association:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Lean proteins
- Healthy fats
It’s also important not to eat too much salt because it can increase your risk of stroke by up to 25%. Additionally, be sure to watch your sugar intake because too much sugar can cause weight gain, increasing your chance of stroke.
2. Avoid Smoking
Cigarettes contain over 7,000 toxic chemicals which can enter your bloodstream and increase your chance of stroke. It’s important to cut back or stop smoking because it may affect the following, which can all affect one’s risk of stroke, according to the Stroke Association:
- Increase risk of high blood pressure
- Increase the chance of a blood clot
- Raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol
- Reduce oxygen levels in your bloodstream
3. Limit Alcohol Intake
If you exceed the recommended alcohol limit of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, it may raise your blood pressure, according to stroke prevention tips recommended by the CDC. This can lead to an increased risk of stroke.
4. Manage Cholesterol Levels
Because high LDL cholesterol increases the risk of stroke, it’s important to track your cholesterol levels. The CDC recommends that you have your doctor test your cholesterol every five years to help manage it and lower your risk of stroke.
5. Control Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can go undetected for many years if it isn’t regularly monitored, so the CDC recommends getting it checked on a regular basis to help with stroke prevention. It can be checked during a doctor’s appointment, at the pharmacy, or even at home.
Your doctor may have suggestions on how often you should check it based on your age, risk, and other conditions, so be sure to consult them. They may even suggest lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help you manage it.
6. Stay Physically Active
Oftentimes, inactivity can lead to obesity, higher cholesterol, and higher blood pressure. All three can lead to an increased risk of stroke, so be sure to exercise regularly to prevent stroke. For adults, the CDC recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as a brisk walk, per week.
Regular physical activity can also help you keep a healthy weight, which can help reduce the risk of stroke.
7. Take Your Medications
Many conditions that increase the risk of stroke are often treated by doctors with prescribed medications. For instance, the common stroke-causing conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can all be managed with effective medications and lifestyle changes.
Be sure to follow your doctor’s orders and don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor and/or pharmacist first.
Getting Proper Care After a Stroke
If you or a loved one has had a stroke, it’s important to prioritize stroke recovery or rehabilitation after they’re treated in a hospital. The recovery time varies between individuals and can take weeks, months, or even years, according to the stroke treatment and intervention process outlined by the CDC.
Even after the rehabilitation process, some people may fully recover but still face long-term effects or lifelong disabilities. Some of the following problems may persist after a stroke, according to the CDC:
- Depression
- Difficulty with chewing or swallowing
- Difficulty with comprehension, judgement, and speech formation
- Memory impairments
- Numbness or strange sensations
- Pain in the hands and feet
- Paralysis or weakness on one or both sides of the body
- Urinary or fecal incontinence
Consider Senior Living for Post-Stroke Care
Some of these issues can be managed with the right rehabilitative therapies, support, and care team. However, it can become difficult to manage at home, especially if a loved one starts to require a caregiver.
If it becomes difficult to provide your senior loved one the care they need, it may be time to consider senior living—and Sunrise is here to help. In our senior living communities, the assisted living neighborhoods tailor care to each resident’s needs and preferences. For instance, if Mom or Dad has trouble eating or moving around after a stroke, our team members can support them with personalized care.
To learn about potential senior care options for a senior in your life, find a Sunrise near you. Our team members are more than happy to answer questions about how they can fulfill your senior loved one’s needs.
References
[1] Centers for Disease Control. (2024, May 15). Risk factors for stroke.
[2] Stroke Association. (2023). Eat a healthy diet.
[3] Stroke Association. (2023). Stop smoking.
[4] Centers for Disease Control. (2024, May 15). Preventing stroke.