HEALTHY LIVING


BY CHRIS ILIADES, M.D. E


very three and a half minutes, someone suff ers a fatal stroke in America, according to the American


Heart Association. Nonfatal strokes occur every


40 seconds. For survivors, stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability. But new research fi nds that up to 80% of fi rst strokes can be prevented. A stroke is a ruptured or blocked


artery in the brain that causes loss of blood supply to part of the brain. A transient ischemic attack (TIA),


also called a ministroke, is a loss of blood supply to the brain that does not last long enough to cause permanent damage. About one in three people who


have a TIA will go on to have a full stroke. One in four who have a full stroke will have another. The new guidelines, published


in the journal Stroke, build on “Life’s Essential 8,” which are lifestyle risk factors for stroke that you can change. The essential eight are a heart-


healthy diet, being more physically active, not smoking, getting enough sleep, keeping cholesterol numbers in check, and managing your weight, blood sugar, and blood pressure.


80 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | MAY 2025


PRIMARY PREVENTION The guidelines start by emphasizing the importance of access to regular primary care providers. “It is up to primary care providers


to screen patients for stroke risk factors and initiate prevention strategies,” said Pierre Fayad, M.D., professor of neurology and director of the Vascular Neurology and Stroke Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.


STROKE RISK Recent research has added social and economic risk factors for stroke that can be screened for in primary care. The guidelines call these social determinants of health, and they have a major impact on who gets screened and treated for stroke risk. “Social determinants infl uence


the ability to engage in behaviors that might reduce stroke risk,” said Sophia Sundararajan, M.D., Ph.D., professor of neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. “For example, education may lead


to a job that provides healthcare; economic stability leads to healthcare access or access to healthy food that often costs more. “One’s neighborhood may determine how safe an individual feels walking outside for exercise. Education also infl uences healthcare literacy, understanding what to do to improve their health.”


MEDITERRANEAN DIET “The Mediterranean diet is the diet that has been the most tested and proven to help lower the risk of stroke,” explained Fayad. It emphasizes plant- based foods and healthy fats to reduce the risk of stroke. “The Mediterranean diet has been


shown in randomized controlled trials to reduce the incidence of stroke in patients with intermediate and high cardiovascular risk,” according to Sundararajan. “This diet emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. It can lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes risk. It can also help with weight loss.”


It is up to primary care providers to screen patients for stroke risk factors and initiate prevention strategies.” — P ierre Fayad, M.D.


MEGAPHONE/BEAST01©ISTOCK / DOCTOR/HALFPOINT IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES


Avoid a Stroke New Ways to


Up to 80% can be prevented by following these recently released guidelines. ::


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