According to the Philippine Health Statistics (2004), stroke kills 61.8 per 100,000 population. It is the second leading cause of mortality in the Philippines, next to heart diseases.
But this figure could be much higher. According to Dr. Joey Navarro in his study published in the Philippine Journal of Neurology, stroke affects 486 out of 100,000 Filipinos or roughly half a million Filipinos. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization estimates that 15 million people worldwide will suffer from stroke each year and five million will die and another five million will be permanently disabled.
Several risk factors have been identified for stroke, some cannot be controlled like age and family health history, but the others can be modified through lifestyle change like smoking and hypertension. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance he or she will have a stroke.
Common Risk Factors:
• Increasing age. The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, many people under 65 also have strokes.
• Sex. Overall, the incidence and prevalence of stroke are about equal for men and women. However, at all ages, more women than men die of stroke.
• Heredity (family history). The chance of stroke is greater in people who have a family history of stroke.
• Hypertension. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. In fact, stroke risk varies directly with blood pressure.
• Cigarette smoking. In recent years, studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system in many ways. The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly increases stroke risk.
• Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke and is strongly correlated with high blood pressure. While diabetes is treatable, having it increases a person’s risk of stroke. People with diabetes often also have high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more.
• Heart disease. People with heart problems have more than twice the risk of stroke as those whose hearts work normally. Atrial fibrillation (the rapid uncoordinated beating of the heart’s upper chambers) in particular, raises the risk for stroke. Heart attack is also the major cause of death among stroke survivors.
• High red blood cell count. A moderate or marked increase in the red blood cell count is a risk factor for stroke. The reason is that more red blood cells thicken the blood and make clots more likely. This is present in persons with chronic heart and lung diseases.
• Season and climate. Stroke deaths occur more often during periods of extremely hot or cold temperatures.
• Socioeconomic factors. There is some evidence that people of lower income and educational levels have a higher risk for stroke.
• Excessive alcohol intake. Excessive drinking (more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men) and binge drinking can raise blood pressure, contribute to obesity, high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, cause heart failure and lead to stroke.
• Certain kinds of drug abuse. Intravenous (injecting) drug abuse carries a high risk of stroke from cerebral emboli. Cocaine use has been closely related to strokes, heart attacks and a variety of cardiovascular complications. Some of them have been fatal even for first- time cocaine users.
• Sex. Overall, the incidence and prevalence of stroke are about equal for men and women. However, at all ages, more women than men die of stroke.
• Heredity (family history). The chance of stroke is greater in people who have a family history of stroke.
• Hypertension. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. In fact, stroke risk varies directly with blood pressure.
• Cigarette smoking. In recent years, studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system in many ways. The use of oral contraceptives combined with cigarette smoking greatly increases stroke risk.
• Diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke and is strongly correlated with high blood pressure. While diabetes is treatable, having it increases a person’s risk of stroke. People with diabetes often also have high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more.
• Heart disease. People with heart problems have more than twice the risk of stroke as those whose hearts work normally. Atrial fibrillation (the rapid uncoordinated beating of the heart’s upper chambers) in particular, raises the risk for stroke. Heart attack is also the major cause of death among stroke survivors.
• High red blood cell count. A moderate or marked increase in the red blood cell count is a risk factor for stroke. The reason is that more red blood cells thicken the blood and make clots more likely. This is present in persons with chronic heart and lung diseases.
• Season and climate. Stroke deaths occur more often during periods of extremely hot or cold temperatures.
• Socioeconomic factors. There is some evidence that people of lower income and educational levels have a higher risk for stroke.
• Excessive alcohol intake. Excessive drinking (more than one drink per day for women and more than two drinks per day for men) and binge drinking can raise blood pressure, contribute to obesity, high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, cause heart failure and lead to stroke.
• Certain kinds of drug abuse. Intravenous (injecting) drug abuse carries a high risk of stroke from cerebral emboli. Cocaine use has been closely related to strokes, heart attacks and a variety of cardiovascular complications. Some of them have been fatal even for first- time cocaine users.
Prevention of Stroke
The following are key areas for the prevention of stroke:
• Treatment and control of hypertension. Many people believe that effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the rapid decline in the death rates for stroke.
• Smoking cessation and promoting a smoke-free environment.
• Preventing thrombus formation in rheumatic heart disease and arrhythmias with appropriate medications. These medications are usually taken on a daily basis. Heath providers need to remind these people to take their medications as prescribed.
• Limiting alcohol consumption for women to not more than one drink per day and for men to not more than two drinks per day.
• Avoiding intravenous drug abuse and cocaine.
• Treatment and control of hypertension. Many people believe that effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the rapid decline in the death rates for stroke.
• Smoking cessation and promoting a smoke-free environment.
• Preventing thrombus formation in rheumatic heart disease and arrhythmias with appropriate medications. These medications are usually taken on a daily basis. Heath providers need to remind these people to take their medications as prescribed.
• Limiting alcohol consumption for women to not more than one drink per day and for men to not more than two drinks per day.
• Avoiding intravenous drug abuse and cocaine.
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Photo Credit:
Stroke in Progress
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