Most
do not take steps to prevent recurrence
by Kim Hayes, AARP,
January 29, 2018
The American Heart
Association says getting active can help restore your cardiovascular health
after a stroke.
Only 1 out of every
100 stroke survivors, or 1 percent, actually take
the recommended medical steps to restore their cardiovascular health and
prevent recurrence, according to a report from the International Stroke
Conference, held last week by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American
Stroke Association.
The seven
steps to prevent recurrence, according to the AHA, are: increase activity, eat healthier, lose weight,
avoid smoking, manage blood pressure, control cholesterol and lower blood sugar
levels. The report, which was based on data from nearly 68,000 stroke
survivors, showed that rates had increased for diabetes (56 percent) — meaning
higher sugar levels — and obesity (39 percent) since the late 1980s, according
to the AHA. Poor diets also rose from 14 percent in the late 1980s to over 50
percent today.
There were some bright
spots, however. Rates of high blood pressure and high cholesterol among stroke survivors
are both down since the 1980s.
Stroke is the fifth
leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of serious
disability for adults. The likelihood of having a stroke nearly doubles every
10 years after age 55.
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