PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — In simplest terms, a stroke happens when the brain does not get enough blood. Blood carries oxygen, and without blood going to the brain, it can die.
Sometimes a stroke happens when an artery bursts or when a clot blocks blood flow. As many as eight out of 10 strokes can be prevented by lifestyle changes or medical management.
Some leading causes of stroke are high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol. Some lifestyle factors are smoking, inactivity, unhealthy diet, drinking alcohol and stress.
Certainly, we do not worry about stroke in our day-to-day lives, but if you really think about it, some simple lifestyle changes can make a huge difference and decrease the odds.
Get more medical reports from Dr. Brian McDonough.
KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
