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Stroke is the third biggest cause of death in the developed world after heart disease and cancer, causing an estimated 10% of all deaths worldwide. It has been estimated that stroke occurs every 53 seconds in North America and about 150,000 people in the US die of it every year. An individuals lifetime risk of developing a stroke is approximately 1 in 6. It is also the biggest cause of disability. The cause of stroke is brain tissue death, which is often irreversible. Stroke could affect movements, memory and emotions. It can leave a person unable to talk or think clearly. While stroke often occurs almost momentarily, it is nearly always a result of processes that started decades ago, usually during the middle age, when a person is at his or her physical and mental peak. Stroke depends on a range of risk factors some of which cannot be changed while others can be modified to decrease risk. Age, male gender, genetics and family history cannot be changed. Other risk factors for stroke include diet, high blood pressure, exercise, drinking and smoking. All these factors can be changed to reduce stroke risk. By eating a sensible diet and not smoking or drinking excessively a person's chance of suffering a stroke in later life can be considerably reduced. Both genetics and lifestyle play important roles in stroke risk. It has long been known however that genetics may contribute up to 50% of a person's risk of developing a stroke in the future. It is now possible to test for genes that increase that risk when a person is still young and environmental risk factors such as diet and exercise could be monitored much more closely. Knowing that you are at risk could help change your lifestyle: losing weight, quitting smoking and excessive alcohol use, lowering blood cholesterol are just a few examples of health steps that you could take to dramatically lower your personal risk of stroke. To reduce your stroke risk, find out your genetic odds by ordering the STROKE RISK TEST™ now. |
Information on this website is not intended to be a substitute to a physician's evaluation. Only a physician or other health care professional trained in diagnosis and treatment of memory disorders can make diagnostic decisions and recommend treatments. Always consult your physician before starting any new diet or exercise program. Please read full disclaimer information before using this service.
