Ways to Slash Your Stroke Risk

  • Manage diabetes. High blood sugar damages blood vessels in the brain. Work with your doctor to keep blood glucose under control.
  • Treat heart problems. A misshapen heart or irregular heartbeat could contribute to stroke. Ask your doctor about treatment options.
  • Eat a Mediterranean diet. A study in The Lancet reported people who ate a Mediterranean diet had the lowest stroke risk. Load up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins.
  • Ease stress. Constant psychological pressure may damage artery walls. To calm down, try positive self-talk. Don’t think, “I can’t do this.” Tell yourself, “I’ll do the best I can.”

Nine Ways to Slash
Your Stroke Risk

  1. Keep up with regular blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.
  2. Maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
  3. Talk with your doctor about treatment for heart problems. A misshapen heart or irregular heartbeat could contribute to stroke.
  4. Stay a healthy weight.
  5. Eat healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
  6. Exercise for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
  7. Stop smoking.
  8. Limit alcohol to one drink per day. Men should stop at two.
  9. Manage stress. To stay calm, try positive self-talk. Tell yourself, “I’ll do the best I can.”

Stroke | Stroke Patient Story - DawnDawn Robinson has learned a lot since she suffered a stroke in August 2008—including the fact that anyone at any age can have one. She was 34 at the time and in good health. Stroke was one of the last things on her mind.

Now, after nearly three years of stroke rehabilitation, hard work, and hope, she also recognizes that recovery is possible.

“It’s been a long process, but I made it,” Dawn says. “The care I received from OSF Saint Francis was excellent beyond belief.”

 

A Fateful Event

Dawn’s stroke happened unexpectedly on her 10th anniversary with husband Pat. After returning home from a celebratory lunch, Dawn collapsed at their Peoria home. Pat noticed that the right side of his wife's face was drooping. Suspecting stroke, he immediately called 911.

Emergency responders rushed Dawn to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. OSF is home to the Illinois Neurological Institute and its specialty Stroke Center. Certified by The Joint Commission, the center meets strict national quality standards for its stroke care. It has a dedicated stroke team ready to assist 24/7.

When Dawn arrived at the hospital, the stroke team was waiting. “Dawn was lucky that her husband recognized the symptoms of stroke and called for medical help right away,” says her neurologist, Arun Talkad, MD, director of the Illinois Neurological Institute Stroke Center. “When someone is having a stroke, getting the right medical care as soon as possible offers the best chance for a good recovery.”

 

Time Lost Is Brain Lost

Dawn had an ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke, caused by a clot in a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain. The clot-busting drug tPA can treat ischemic stroke and reduce the risk for long-term disability. But it works best when given within the first three hours after an ischemic stroke occurs.

Recognizing stroke symptoms and getting to the hospital quickly can help people receive appropriate treatment, Dr. Talkad notes. Common symptoms include:

  • Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  • Vision problems in one or both eyes
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding
  • Dizziness or loss of balance
  • Sudden severe or unexplained headache

The Illinois Neurological Institute Stroke Center has resources unavailable at many hospitals to help diagnose and treat a stroke quickly. The institute is a leader in the Midwest for clinical care, research, and education in neurological illness in adults and children.

“But what I’m most proud of is the passion we bring to our work,” Dr. Talkad says. “We care for upwards of 800 stroke patients each year at OSF Saint Francis—many transferred from rural hospitals—and every patient is treated as an individual with his or her unique needs.”

Regaining Independence

Today, Dawn is almost fully recovered. After four days in critical care, she moved to the institute’s inpatient rehabilitation unit, where she worked for hours each day with physical, occupational, and speech therapists. She has regained the ability to move her right side, which she lost due to the stroke. She also can speak again.

Dawn and Pat have since moved to Decatur, but she continues to work with a speech therapist. She also takes daily medication and remains under Dr. Talkad’s care.

“I’ve regained my life and my independence, and I continue to get better day by day,” Dawn says. “Through my faith, the unyielding love of my family, and the continued care of OSF’s stroke team, my outlook on life is better than ever!”