NJNI:
Keep Active To Minimize Risk For Stroke
EDISON , NJ —Do you ever have one of those days when you battle yourself about working out? …When the idea of being a couch potato is much more appealing than donning workout gear and sweating? Sometimes it can help knowing that there's more on the line than just looking good. Here's a little motivation for you: Being active can reduce your risk for stroke.
“Research has shown that people who are regularly active have a lower incidence of stroke compared to those who are inactive,” says Dr. Nikolaos Papamitsakis, Director of the Stroke Service at the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center in Edison . “Physical inactivity and obesity, which often go hand in hand, can increase the risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2002 has shown that increased exercise is not only a protective measure, but also decreases one's overall risk of death.
Physical activity has many benefits. In the short term, you can reduce stress, have fun, increase your energy, and spend time with others doing the same activity. In the long run, you can improve your cardiovascular health, increase strength and flexibility, improve your posture and balance, increase bone mass, lose weight, and improve your overall health. Adds Papamitsakis, “When it comes to preventing stroke, keeping your heart healthy is at the top of the list and exercise does just that.”
Just how much activity do you need? It depends on your starting health and the level of intensity, but 20 minutes of vigorous activity, 30 minutes of moderate activity, or 60 minutes of light activity each day can make a world of difference. But even just every other day can have a positive effect.
Says Papamitsakis, “Some risk factors for stroke, such as your age, gender, family history or race, cannot be changed. Others, such as smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, weight, and activity are well within your control.”
When making the choice, remember what's at risk when you choose to be inactive. Stroke can result in irreversible, permanent, and debilitating damage. It is the leading cause of disability and the third-leading cause of death in the United States . Each year, approximately 750,000 Americans experience stroke, with about 160,000 of them dying and another 250,000 severely or permanently disabled. In New Jersey alone, more than 26,000 people were admitted with the primary diagnosis of a stroke in 2001. Many of these people were left with impaired mobility, independence and communication–which in turn can lead to decreased socialization, financial instability, depression and other problems. There were 4,316 deaths due to stroke among New Jersey residents in 2000.
Beyond preventing stroke, it's important to know the signs and symptoms of stroke:
- Sudden weakness, numbness, and tingling, often on one side of the body
- Abrupt slurring of speech or difficulty understanding others
- Sudden confusion
- Sudden difficulty walking or keeping balance (dizziness)
- Sudden loss of coordination
- Sudden and extremely severe headaches
- Any abrupt change in your ability to do simple things, like tie a knot or brush your teeth
And it's important to know what to do…. If you or someone you know is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, get to the emergency room or stroke treatment center immediately.
But it's also important to know how to protect your heart to prevent stroke in the first place. Papamitsakis advises, “Keep your heart healthy. Be active, eat healthy, monitor and manage your stress, cholesterol, diabetes, and any heart disease. Put your heart health first and you can minimize the risk for stroke.”
The New Jersey Neuroscience Institute at JFK Medical Center is a comprehensive facility designed exclusively for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of complex neurological and neurosurgical disorders in adults and children. Services offered at the Institute include programs in minimally invasive and reconstructive spine surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, brain tumors, dizziness and balance disorders, epilepsy, sleep, memory problems/dementia, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spasticity and movement disorders. As a department of Seton Hall University 's School of Graduate Medical Education , NJNI serves as the clinical setting for SHU's residency training in neurology. For more information on the New Jersey Neuroscience Institute, call 732-321-7950 or visit the facility online at www.njneuro.org .