Sadly, someone very special to me recently suffered a stroke and is now undergoing surgery…so I was inspired to raise awareness here.

Also known as cerebral vascular accident (CVA), a stroke is very scary because it’s not like your brain taps you on the shoulder and says, “Hey—I’m getting less blood up here and that ain’t good.”

Here is the scoop on this condition that is the number 5 cause of death in the US, as well as a leading cause of long-term disability…and how you can prevent your number from coming up.

The anatomy of a stroke

Simply put, a stroke is when the blood supply to your brain is interrupted, and there are 3 different ways this can happen:

1. Ischemic Stroke

With an ischemic stroke, the blood supply to your brain is reduced or cut off.  This is the most common type of stroke, representing about 90 percent of cases.

There are three factors that can trigger an ischemic stroke:

• Thrombosis: A clot forms inside an artery in the brain or neck that dislodges and starts to move.
• Embolism: A clot moves from another area of the body to the brain, blocking a major artery.
• Stenosis: Narrowing of an artery leading to the brain that limits the circulation of blood.

 

2. Hemorrhagic Stroke

With this type of stroke, there is bleeding in the brain.  When blood is spilling out of a vessel in the brain, your brain cells cannot get enough for their needs.

There are two types of hemorrhagic strokes:

• Intracerebral hemorrhage occurs when an artery in the brain bursts.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs when there is bleeding in the area between the brain and the tissues that cover it.

 

3. Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA, or “mini-stroke”)

A TIA is different from the 2 other (major) types of stroke because blood flow to the brain is blocked for only a short time—usually less than 5 minutes.

But a TIA is a warning sign of a future stroke, so it’s nothing to blow off.

How the damage is done

After just 4 minutes without an adequate supply of blood and oxygen, your brain cells become damaged and begin to die.

Your body tries to restore blood and oxygen to the brain by enlarging other arteries near the area.  But if that doesn't happen quickly enough or the "emergency" blood supply is inadequate, permanent brain damage usually occurs.

When your brain cells become damaged or die, the body parts that are controlled by those cells lose their ability to function properly.

This can range from mild to severe and temporary to permanent.  It depends on where and how much of your brain is damaged and how fast the blood supply is restored.

About half of all people who have a stroke will have long-term problems with talking, understanding, and decision-making. They also may have behavior changes that affect their relationships.

Other long-term complications of a stroke can include depression and pneumonia.

Prevention is where it’s at!

The good news here is that experts estimate that at least 80 percent of strokes can be PREVENTED.

Here are 4 important measures you can take to keep the odds in your favor:

1. Quit smoking

Smoking is the #1 most controllable risk factor for stroke and is directly responsible for a higher proportion of strokes in young adults.

And smokers of ALL ages have a double risk of ischemic stroke compared to nonsmokers.

2. Exercise regularly

Exercise helps ALL of your cells and organ systems to work properly and helps your body eliminate toxins--all of which can improve the health of your blood vessels and prevent blockages.

Plus exercise helps naturally lower blood pressure, which is another major risk factor for stroke.

Now, don’t roll your eyes here.  You don’t have to join a gym or buy expensive equipment.  Brisk walking is a great activity and just about anyone can do it.

There are also DVD programs you can use in your home.

That’s how I was inspired to start karate, by the way—by doing Billy Blanks’ Tae-Bo workouts in my living room!  Now 15 years later I’m a 4^th degree black-belt and master instructor.

3. Have a healthy diet of real foods

Having a healthy diet of real foods is the biggest bang for your buck in terms of stroke prevention:

• Your body is better able to get the nourishment that it needs for all your cells--including your precious brain cells.
• Wastes and toxins can be more efficiently eliminated, so they are less likely to gum up your blood and contribute to artery blockages.
• You can more easily maintain a healthy body weight. Obesity is a risk factor for stroke too.

Concentrate on fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, poultry, wild-caught fish, eggs and good fats (real butter, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado and nuts).

At the same time, avoid refined carbs and sugars.  These stir up inflammation in your body, and inflammation is a leading contributing factor to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis.

Refined carbs also increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which is yet another stroke risk factor. 

Also, stay far away from diet soda (and artificial sweeteners in general).  Studies have shown that drinking diet soda nearly triples the risk of stroke and dementia!

If you need help transitioning to a healthier diet, let my Great Taste No Pain system guide you all the way!

You’ll learn all about the dangers of bad fats and carbs, why artificial sweeteners are poison, and much more!

Plus, you’ll learn how to pair foods together in your meals to pave the way for smooth, comfortable digestion, and less gas, bloating, heartburn and constipation.

And the dishes in the recipe section are the bomb!

4. Get enough Vitamin D

Recent studies have shown that low vitamin D levels are associated with higher risk for stroke, and worse outcomes in patients suffering from ischemic strokes.

Unfortunately, current estimates show that nearly 80 percent of us are running low in vitamin D!

But you can ensure that you have healthful levels of this crucial nutrient with Optimum DK Formula with FruiteX-B!

Optimum DK Formula provides a health-supporting 5,000 IUs of vitamin D3 in every daily dose, plus its partners vitamins K1 and K2, and the mineral boron.

These nutrients work synergistically to help support cardiovascular health, as well as bone and immune health too!

And now is the perfect time to beef up your body’s vitamin D supply because Optimum DK Formula is $7 off per bottle!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia