Jamie Fillerup- health trends

Jamie Fillerup
 Public Health Trends- Strokes
                 After my best friend’s 10 year-old sister had a stroke, I became very interested in the leading causes and methods of prevention. Along with heart disease, strokes are a leading cause of death. In fact, $1 for every $6 in health care is spent towards heart disease and stroke alone. According to CDC, here are 5 trends I found regarding strokes:
 1. Tobacco Use- According to the National Stroke Association, smoking doubles the risk for stroke when compared to a nonsmoker. This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood which forces the heart to work harder to carry out daily processes, which allows blood clots to form easily. Smoking also blocks the blood flow to the brain because it increases the build-up in arteries which leads to strokes.
 2. Physical Activity- After having a stroke, one is more likely to continue having them throughout their lifetime. Physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce the chance of a stroke victim having another because it decreases stress which allows the heart to function at constant rates.
 3. Weight Maintenance- Maintaining a healthy weight is key to preventing strokes because obesity increases blood pressure and chances of diabetes, which both lead to strokes.
 4. Diet- A major contributor to high blood pressure comes from eating too much sodium. Most of the sodium people eat comes from restaurants and processed food, therefore diet plays a huge role in preventing strokes. In fact, sodium intake is so important that CDC is currently working to expand scientific literature on sodium to raise awareness for upcoming generations. Overall, a balanced diet that is low in calories and saturated and trans fat is best for preventing strokes.

5. Blood Pressure/Cholesterol- Maintaining a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol level plays a significant role in cardiovascular health. In fact, reducing in blood pressure by 12-13 points can decrease heart disease risk by 21% and stroke risk by 37%.

Sources: http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=smokinghttp://www.cdc.gov/DiseasesConditions/