Poor diet increases stroke risk, doctor warns

• By Wang Shan-yan and William Hetherington / Employees reporter, with employees author

A Chiayi physician warned {that a} poor food regimen and a scarcity of train put these aged 40 or older at a excessive danger for stroke.

Common blood stress readings are really useful for these aged 40 or older, Chiayi Hospital heart specialist Huang Ying-ho (黃英和) stated, including that they need to additionally keep away from consuming an excessive amount of oily or salty meals, in addition to meals excessive in sugar.

If an individual’s systolic blood stress is increased than 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or their diastolic blood stress is increased than 90mmHg, they need to see a physician, Huang stated.

Picture: Wang Shan-yen, Taipei Occasions

“Common exercise can also be vital,” he stated. “This is usually a towel exercise, jogging and even going for lengthy walks.”

A stroke happens when blood stream to the mind is interrupted on account of a clogged or ruptured artery.

Every year, about 30,000 Taiwanese have strokes and over the previous two years, about 12,000 individuals per yr died from strokes, he stated, citing Ministry of Well being and Welfare information.

In winter, the chance of stroke will increase with intermittent chilly spells, and large swings between daytime and nighttime temperatures, he stated, including that an unhealthy food regimen and lack of exercise through the Lunar New Yr vacation additionally heighten the chance.

“These with hypertension, excessive ldl cholesterol and excessive blood sugar are particularly in danger, as a result of they’re extra more likely to have hardening of the arteries,” he stated.

Of the stroke sufferers that he has handled, most have been 65 or older, however he has began to see extra sufferers who’re youthful — largely on account of poor food regimen and train, Huang stated.

“Performing shortly is vital to surviving a stroke,” he stated.

To recollect the indicators of a stroke, individuals ought to keep in mind the acronym FAST: face, arms, speech and time.

If one facet of an individual’s face droops once they smile, an arm drifts down involuntarily once they increase each and their speech turns into slurred, individuals ought to promptly name emergency providers, Huang stated.

Individuals ought to do at the very least half-hour of bodily exercise every day, he stated.

These with out entry to a gymnasium train at dwelling with towels, he stated.

A 15-minute exercise designed by Lin Li-chiu (林麗秋), a sports activities teacher commissioned by the Chiayi Metropolis Governmt is on-line at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGxIBTXVUGk.

“Towels are one thing that everybody has available, and stretching with towels ensures that the physique actions are appropriate and the tempo of the actions is reasonable,” Lin stated.

A towel exercise begins with stretching workouts, which improve blood circulation, and continues with muscle strengthening and stability coaching, she stated.

These new to exercising ought to do stretching workouts for one week, after which deal with muscle strengthening, Lin added.