Advert warns to act FAST when you see signs of a stroke
In the UK, strokes are the fourth largest cause of death attributing to around 34,000 fatalities annually. They occur when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
This is usually due to a blood clot but it can also happen when a vessel supplying blood to the brain bursts.
Like any medical condition, there are a number of factors that can increase your risk for stroke - some of which are within our control.
Diet is one such factor, with the NHS issuing an urgent warning to cut back on one particular ingredient in order to slash your chances of experiencing a stroke.
The health body explains: “An unhealthy diet can increase your chances of having a stroke because it may lead to an increase in your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”
According to the NHS, we should all be cutting back on our salt intake to avoid a stroke.
“Eating too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes,” it says.
Unfortunately it is “easy” to have too much salt.
The NHS continues: “Around three quarters of the salt we eat comes from packaged and everyday foods we buy, such as bread, breakfast cereals, meat products and ready meals.
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“It can also be found in takeaways, restaurant or café meals and fast-food outlets.”
Adults should have no more than six grams of salt a day (around one level teaspoon), but children should have even less.
And babies should not have much salt, because their kidneys are not fully developed and cannot process it.
To lower your salt intake, the NHS recommends the following:
- Try adding flavour to your food with herbs and spices, black pepper, garlic, chilli or lemon juice instead of salt
- Limit the amount of salt you add when cooking and eating – try tasting your food before adding any extra salt to your meals
- Check food labels – look for products with green and amber colour-coded labels on the front of the packaging
- Choose lower-salt foods by checking the salt content on the back or side of the packaging
- Try low or reduced-salt versions of foods and sauces – for example, low-salt soy sauce and stock cubes
- Buy tinned vegetables, pulses or fish in water instead of brine
- Eat salty foods less often or in small amounts – for example, cured meats and fish, cheese, olives and pickles
- Have healthier snacks, such as plain rice cakes, fruit, vegetable sticks or unsalted nuts
- Be aware that some dissolvable tablets, such as painkillers, vitamins or prescription medicines, may be high in salt – speak to your GP before changing any medicines.
Other ways to reduce risk
To minimise the risk of a stroke you should also:
- Eat a healthy diet
- Exercise regularly
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol.
The NHS adds: “If you have a condition that increases your risk of a stroke, it's important to manage it effectively. For example, taking medicine you've been prescribed to lower high blood pressure or cholesterol levels.”
The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST:
- Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped
- Arms – the person with a suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
- Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them
- Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.
If you think someone is experiencing a stroke you should call 999.
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