The Stroke Association warned the catastrophic event occurs every five minutes in the UK with around 50 percent of cases being preventable. By adopting a healthier lifestyle, you can reduce your risk but also knowing the early warning symptoms will help to ensure faster treatment to lessen any serious damage. The eyes including your vision are some early warnings to spot.
The eyes, as all the body’s organs, depend on the flow of oxygen-rich blood to function.
They have nerves and tissues that send signals to the brain to create a visual image.
One of these critical tissues is the retina, which is at the back of the eye.
The retina plays a crucial role in sending visual signals to the brain, and it contains small and large arteries and veins that move blood to and from the heart.
This blood is essential to vision, and a blockage in the retina’s blood vessels can permanently affect vision and lead to blindness.
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According to Medical News Today, symptoms of a stroke can include:
- Slurred speech
- Sudden weakness in the limbs
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loss of balance or feeling unbalanced
- Partial or complete loss of vision or double vision
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation
- Numbness or a tingling feeling
- Confusion
- Vomiting or nausea.
Ischaemic strokes are the most common type of stroke. They happen when a blood clot blocks the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain.
These blood clots typically form in areas where the arteries have been narrowed or blocked over time by fatty deposits known as plaques.
Healthy lifestyle choices reduce the risk of stroke by 80 percent, as reported in one study published in the NCBI.
Ways to reduce your risk
Get regular exercise; the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend 2.5 hours a week
Eat a heart-healthy diet, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and unsaturated fats
Work with a dietician, as recommended for some individuals
Avoid or quit smoking
Work with a doctor to manage other health conditions, such as diabetes.
The Mayo Clinic says that “knowing your stroke risk factors, following your doctor’s recommendations and adopting a healthy lifestyle” are the best steps you can take to prevent a stroke.
The health site adds that if you’ve had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, there are measures which might help prevent another stroke.
“The follow-up care you receive in the hospital and afterward also may play a role,” it notes.
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