According to the CDC, every 40 seconds someone suffers from a stroke in the United States.  Unfortunately, nearly every four seconds, someone also dies from one.

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, causing parts of the body to rapidly weaken and/or stop functioning.

At CTVS, stroke awareness and prevention is an important mission for us, as we want all of our patients and families to avoid this potentially life-threatening situation at all costs.

In honor of World Stroke Day on October 29th our team of board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons is sharing a quick look at the common risk factors that often contribute to stroke.

There are some risk factors you may not be able to control, such as a family history of stroke or heart disease, or if you were born with a congenital heart defect.

However, there are some factors you can control, which will help minimize your risk.

What risk factors can I control to help prevent me from having a stroke?

Minimizing your stroke potential from these risk factors can be improved by:

  • Following a heart healthy diet that is low in fats and high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber
  • Stopping smoking
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Staying physically active and aiming to get at least 20 minutes of exercise per day
  • Taking medications to help control blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar (for diabetes) as directed by your regular physician or endocrinologist

To determine your personal risk for stroke, take this short assessment quiz created by the American Heart Association.

For questions about any of our vascular, cardiac, or thoracic services, please visit ctvstexas.com or call us at (512) 459-8753 to schedule an appointment.

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