Monday, March 25, 2013

Hendersonville Senior Care: Risk Factors Associated with Stroke


By Jim Smeaton
When dealing with Hendersonville Senior Care - stroke is a real concern. The National Stroke Association asserts that stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Furthermore, it is the leading cause of disability in adults throughout the nation.[1] As such, it is very important for individuals providing home care to seniors to understand what strokes are and what risk factors are associated with them. The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Western NC, serving Asheville, Hendersonville, and surrounding western North Carolina communities, understand that your goal, as a caregiver, is to offer the highest level of support to your loved one as possible. As such, these in-home care professionals encourage you to learn the risk factors of stroke so you can better monitor your senior's health.

What Is a Stroke?
A stroke takes place when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. This can happen in one of two ways. First, a blood clot can stop the flow of blood through an artery. When this occurs, blood is prevented from traveling to the brain. When a blood vessel bursts the same effect can happen, except in this scenario the blood flows out of the vessels.
When a stroke takes place, the brain cells that are affected die. This can cause damage to parts of the brain and, ultimately, can create long-term complications for your loved one. Difficulty speaking and problems with motor function are common long-term side effects of a stroke.

Risk Factors
The risk factors associated with stroke are divided into two categories: unmanageable and manageable. The unmanageable risk factors include those that seniors cannot possibly control:
·       Age
·       Gender
·       Race
·       Family history
·       Previous stroke
·       Fibromuscular dysplasia
·       Patent foramen ovale

The manageable risk factors, on the other hand, can be controlled. In fact, a healthy lifestyle can minimize the presence of these risk factors and greatly reduce the odds that your loved one will suffer from a stroke. These risk factors include:
·       Physical inactivity
·       Atrial fibrillation
·       Obesity
·       High blood pressure
·       Alcohol use
·       High cholesterol
·       Circulation issues
·       Atherosclerosis
·       Tobacco use
·       Diabetes

The senior care professionals at Always Best Care of Western NC know that you do everything you can to keep your elderly loved one safe and in good health. By recognizing the risk factors for stroke, you can be better prepared to get your loved one the medical assistance they need should such an event occur.


We have many videos available to you regarding senior issues, view them here.

Finding the right care is not an easy decision to make, so we have put together an E-booklet filled with tips, advice, and general information so that you are well informed.

If you are interested in learning more about Alzheimer's, dementia and elder care, contact Jim Smeaton  and the professionals at Always Best Care of Western North Carolina at (828) 989-7263 or visit their website.



[1] http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=stroke

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