This may increase your chance of having a repeat stroke
More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Add repeat strokes to the list of dangers for smokers.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that participants who continued to smoke after having a stroke were almost twice as likely as nonsmokers to have a second stroke.
“All patients who smoke should be advised to quit smoking,” says Anne Lipira, a cardiac rehabilitation nurse at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Ill. “That being said, it is difficult for many patients to quit because it is addictive.”
For the best chance at recovery from a stroke, Lipira advises connecting with your health care provider.
“Follow your physician and care team’s plan by taking medications as prescribed, following through on therapies and participating in rehabilitation,” she says.
Lipira says a healthy lifestyle is the key to stroke prevention. She suggests these seven actions to help prevent a stroke:
- Exercise regularly
- Eat a healthy diet complete with many fruits and vegetables
- Stop smoking
- Manage your blood pressure
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Reduce your blood sugar level
- Schedule routine visits with your doctor
“Making healthy happen means taking action and being intentional in your health habits,” Lipira says. “The payoff is well worth it – feeling great and having a good quality of life.”
Want to learn more about your risk for stroke? Take a quick, free online risk assessment by clicking here.
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About the Author
Chris Campbell, health enews contributor, is a social media intern at Advocate Health Care in Downers Grove. He is going to be a senior at Bradley University in Peoria, IL, where he is double majoring in marketing and business management and leadership. When Chris is not working on school work, he is enjoying the outdoors or watching a sports game.
