Tuesday, June 17th, 2008

Did you know that 80% of all strokes are preventable?The National Stroke Association’s stroke prevention guidelines help you learn how you may be able to lower your risk for a first stroke.The Stroke Prevention Guidelines were established by National Stroke Association’s Stroke Prevention Advisory Board, which includes an elite group of the nation’s leading experts on stroke prevention.

National Stroke Association suggests you ask your doctor for advice on how to best use the following guidelines.

Stroke Prevention Guidelines:

1.  Know your blood pressure.Have your blood pressure checked at least annually. If it is elevated, work with your doctor to keep it under control.High blood pressure (hypertension) is a leading cause of stroke.You can check your blood pressure at your doctor’s office, at health fairs, at home with an automatic blood pressure machine, or at your local pharmacy or supermarket.

2. Find out if you have atrial fibrillation.Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heartbeat that changes how your heart works and allows blood to collect in the chambers of your heart.This blood, which is not moving through your body, tends to clot.The beating of your heart can move one of these blood clots into your blood stream, and can cause a stroke.Your doctor can diagnose AF by carefully taking your pulse.AF can be confirmed or ruled out with an electrocardiogram (ECG) (a recording of the electrical activity of the heart) which can probably be done in your doctor’s office.

3. If you smoke, stop. Smoking doubles the risk for stroke.If you stop smoking today, your risk for stroke will immediately drop.Quitting smoking can significantly reduce your risk of stroke from this factor.

4. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.Studies now show that drinking up to two alcoholic drinks per day can reduce your risk for stroke by about half.  More alcohol than this each day can increase your risk for stroke by as much as three times and can also lead to liver disease, accidents and more.

5. Find out if you have high cholesterol (a soft, waxy fat (lipid) in the bloodstream and in all body cells).Know your cholesterol number.If your total cholesterol level (LDL and HDL) is over 200, talk to your doctor.  You may be at increased risk for stroke.LDL, known as the “bad” cholesterol, is the form that builds up and causes plaque which may narrow arteries and limit or stop blood flow.  LDL can be inherited from your family members or be a result of your body chemistry.  It can also be the result of a diet high in saturated fats, lack of exercise, or diabetes.HDL is the “good” cholesterol that sweeps the blood and removes plaque.Lowering your cholesterol may reduce your risk for stroke.

6. If you are diabetic… Follow your doctor’s advice carefully to control your diabetes.Often, diabetes may be controlled through careful attention to what you eat.Work with your doctor and your dietitian (a health care professional who helps promote good health through proper eating) to develop a healthy eating program that fits your lifestyle.Your doctor can prescribe lifestyle changes and medicine that can help control your diabetes.Having diabetes puts you at an increased risk for stroke; by controlling your diabetes, you may lower your risk for stroke.

7. Exercise.Include exercise in your daily activities.A brisk walk for as little as 30 minutes a day can improve your health in many ways, and may reduce your risk for stroke.Try walking with a friend; this will make it more likely that you’ll make it a habit.If you don’t enjoy walking, choose another exercise or activity that you do enjoy, such as biking, swimming, golf, tennis, dance, or aerobics.Make time each day to take care of yourself by exercise.

8. Enjoy a lower sodium (salt), lower fat diet. By cutting down on sodium and fat in your diet, you may be able to lower your blood pressure and, most importantly, lower your risk for stroke.

9. Circulation (movement of the blood through the heart and blood vessels) problems.  Ask your doctor if you have circulation problems which increase your risk for stroke.
Strokes can be caused by problems with your heart (pump), arteries and veins (tubes), or the blood which flows through them. Together, they are your circulation. Your doctor can check to see if you have problems in the circulation supplying blood to your brain.

10. Symptoms.If you have any stroke symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.Read our article to learn more about stroke symptoms.

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

A jury Thursday awarded $1 million in punitive damages to the family of a 104-year-old woman who died after a short stay at Villa Valencia Nursing Home in Laguna Hills.

The judgment against the center’s owner, Virginia-based Sunrise Senior Living, comes two days after the same Orange County Superior Court panel rendered a separate $1 million verdict for negligence in the March 2005 death of Mary Kathleen Adams of Laguna Hills.

Sunrise Senior Living operates 440 senior homes in the U.S. and abroad – says it will appeal the decision.

The trial, which began in March, revolved around the physical decline of Adams, a retired teacher who admitted herself to the home after fracturing her leg.

Adams then developed pressure ulcers and was not given adequate treatment, such as daily skin checks, according to the lawsuit. She left the home after about two months, on Feb. 25, 2005, and died about two weeks later because of the ulcers, the lawsuit says.

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

More than 100 million Americans should be monitoring their blood pressure at home, according to three major health organizations that are issuing at home blood pressuremonitoring.Hypertension is a blood pressure reading greater than 140 over 90. Pre-hypertension is a reading higher than 120/80, the desired level, but just below 140/90.

Some of the specific recommendations include:

Patients should purchase a blood pressure monitor with cuffs that fit on the upper arm.Wrist monitors are not recommended.
Two or three readings should be taken at a time, one minute apart, while resting in a seated position. The arm should be supported, with the upper arm at heart level and feet on the floor.Readings should be taken at the same time every day, as recommended by a health-care provider.The target goal is a reading under 135/85, or less than 130/80 in high-risk individuals.The home monitoring recommendations open the door to a totally new way of controlling blood pressure, Oparil said.
Source: usnews.com

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008

 As many as 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s right now.

• It is projected that 10 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer’s in their lifetime.

• Every 71 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s.

• Alzheimer’s Disease is the seventh-leading cause of death.
The direct and indirect costs of Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementias to Medicare, Medicaid and businesses amount to more than $148 billion each year.
These are just a few of the facts in our new report, 2008 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. The report can be found at www.alz.org and it includes a comprehensive statistical abstract of U.S. data on Alzheimer’s disease that includes: prevalence, mortality, the costs of Alzheimer care, family caregiving and the lifetime risks of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Monday, February 25th, 2008

Men and women who are moderately fit reduce their stroke risk. Most People can reach that fitness range by walking briskly for only 30 minutes 5 times a week.Stroke is nation’s third-leading cause of death.In its stroke prevention guidelines, the American Stroke Association recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity of moderate intensity on most days of the week.

Visit American Stoke Association for more information.

Wednesday, February 20th, 2008

Avocado is a great source of healthy monounsaturated fat that may help to reduce level of a bad type of cholesterol in the body. Avocado is also a good source of vitamin E and can help to maintain healthy skin and prevent skin the skin from aging. Avocado is rich in potassium which helps prevent fluid retention and high blood pressure.

Try avocado on salads or make a fresh guacamole.