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Heart Disease
Reduce Your Stroke Risk With These Little-Known Tips
Date: 14/04/10
If you’re a regular reader of the Daily Health e-alerts, you will know that we’ve warned against this type of advice for many years. Aspirin can cause serious, and sometimes even fatal, gastrointestinal injury and bleeding and (contrary to popular belief) can actually increase stroke risk, especially in the over-75s.
I bet you’ve heard this before: An aspirin a day will keep stroke away.
If you’re a regular reader of the Daily Health e-alerts, you will know that we’ve warned against this type of advice for many years. Aspirin can cause serious, and sometimes even fatal, gastrointestinal injury and bleeding and (contrary to popular belief) can actually increase stroke risk, especially in the over-75s.
According to an article which appeared in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Neurology in 2007, over the past 25 years the number of strokes associated with blood-thinners – like aspirin – has increased sevenfold.
Stroke: Safer alternatives to cut stroke risk
In a different study, The Lancet reported that having more that the recommended five servings of fruit and veg per day (one serving = half a cup) can reduce the risk of stroke by 26 per cent.
In addition to regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating wholegrains and increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the following protective measures can also help:
* Keep your gums healthy: An article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that evidence is accumulating which indicates that periodontal disease may be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease and stroke. A National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research-supported study called INVEST, showed that the presence of pathogenic periodontal bacteria (bacteria causing inflammation and infection) in dental plaque is associated with increased thickness of the carotid artery wall which can lead to stroke. The latest research findings suggest that co-enzyme Q10 protects the gums and reduces the risk of infection in the spaces between the teeth. In a study conducted by Italian scientists from the Institute of Biochemistry, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, both coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E were found to help prevent inflammation of the gums. The recommended dosage of vitamin E is 400 IU a day. For co-enzyme Q10 take 30mg between 1-3 times a day.
* Get enough sunshine: According to a 2009 study published in the journal Current Vascular Pharmacology, vitamin D deficiency may play a role in heart disease and stroke. Exposing your skin to sunlight for 10-15 minutes a day is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D. For those of us not getting enough sunlight, supplementing is the best way to boost your levels. Most adults should be taking a minimum of 2000 IU of vitamin D a day. for best absorption, take vitamin D supplements with meals that contain some fat.
* Keep your lungs healthy: The journal Stroke, says that the health of your lungs is a good indicator of your risk of having a stroke. Smoking, passive smoking and outdoor air pollution have all been linked to stroke. There are a number of ways to protect your lungs from dangerous pollutants: Stop smoking, install ionizers in your home and car, take antioxidants and check the air quality of your local area. When levels of pollution are high, don’t exercise as the faster you breathe the more pollution will be drawn into your lungs.
* Take supplements: B-vitamins help reduce homocysteine, which has been linked to stroke. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), supplementing with low levels of B vitamins can significantly lower homocysteine levels within 6 weeks. The AJCN study recommends taking 1mg folic acid, 10mg vitamin B6 and 400mcg vitamin B12. Another study published in The Lancet, showed that folic acid alone reduced the risk of stroke by 18 per cent, while a combination of beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin E and A, and zinc reduced stroke deaths by 29 per cent.
* Add garlic and ginger to your cooking: Garlic is believed to have several cardiovascular benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and anti- stroke activity. Additionally, garlic oil can also reduce blood coagulation. Ginger can also reduce blood clotting. 5 grams per day of raw ginger for just one week led to a 37 per cent drop in the blood-clotting agent thromboxane.
As for aspirin? Well, if you are using aspirin as a preventative measure against stroke it’s probably best not to stop using it immediately without speaking to your doctor first to assess your personal risk/benefit ratio.
A 2003 study demonstrated how severe angina and fatal heart attacks might be prompted by the sudden halt of daily aspirin intake.
In reviewing more than 1,200 cases of coronary episodes, French researchers found 51 patients suffered heart attacks or other severe coronary problems less than one week after they stopped using aspirin. Subjects with a history of heart disease were at particularly high risk.
Stroke: Related Reading:
Folate deficiency may increase stroke risk - http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/brain-nervous/folate-deficiency-increase-stroke-risk-00712.html
Drinking Coffee Reduces Risk Of Stroke, Cancer And Dementia - http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/nutrition/coffee-reduces-cancer-stroke-alzheimers-dementia-56347.html
Sources:
‘The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Research for the practicing dentist’, by Drs BRUCE L. PIHLSTROM & LAWRENCE TABAK, published online dental.uthscsa.edu/research/ResearchDentalPractice.pdf
‘Blood Thinners and Nutritional Supplement’, by Dr. Lam, published online, drlam.com/opinion/blood_thinners_and_nutritional_supplement.a sp
‘Antioxidant status and immunohistochemical analysis of soft tissues in periodontal diseases’ Biofactors. 2005;25(1- 4):213-7
Lancet, 2007; 369: 1876-82
Am J Clin Nutr, 1993; 57: 47-53
Stroke, 2002; 33: 2351-6
Curr Vasc Pharmacol, 2009; 7: 414-22
BMJ, 2003; 327: 1228-9
Back to topIf you’re a regular reader of the Daily Health e-alerts, you will know that we’ve warned against this type of advice for many years. Aspirin can cause serious, and sometimes even fatal, gastrointestinal injury and bleeding and (contrary to popular belief) can actually increase stroke risk, especially in the over-75s.
According to an article which appeared in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet Neurology in 2007, over the past 25 years the number of strokes associated with blood-thinners – like aspirin – has increased sevenfold.
Stroke: Safer alternatives to cut stroke risk
In a different study, The Lancet reported that having more that the recommended five servings of fruit and veg per day (one serving = half a cup) can reduce the risk of stroke by 26 per cent.
In addition to regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, eating wholegrains and increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the following protective measures can also help:
* Keep your gums healthy: An article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that evidence is accumulating which indicates that periodontal disease may be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease and stroke. A National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research-supported study called INVEST, showed that the presence of pathogenic periodontal bacteria (bacteria causing inflammation and infection) in dental plaque is associated with increased thickness of the carotid artery wall which can lead to stroke. The latest research findings suggest that co-enzyme Q10 protects the gums and reduces the risk of infection in the spaces between the teeth. In a study conducted by Italian scientists from the Institute of Biochemistry, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, both coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E were found to help prevent inflammation of the gums. The recommended dosage of vitamin E is 400 IU a day. For co-enzyme Q10 take 30mg between 1-3 times a day.
* Get enough sunshine: According to a 2009 study published in the journal Current Vascular Pharmacology, vitamin D deficiency may play a role in heart disease and stroke. Exposing your skin to sunlight for 10-15 minutes a day is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin D. For those of us not getting enough sunlight, supplementing is the best way to boost your levels. Most adults should be taking a minimum of 2000 IU of vitamin D a day. for best absorption, take vitamin D supplements with meals that contain some fat.
* Keep your lungs healthy: The journal Stroke, says that the health of your lungs is a good indicator of your risk of having a stroke. Smoking, passive smoking and outdoor air pollution have all been linked to stroke. There are a number of ways to protect your lungs from dangerous pollutants: Stop smoking, install ionizers in your home and car, take antioxidants and check the air quality of your local area. When levels of pollution are high, don’t exercise as the faster you breathe the more pollution will be drawn into your lungs.
* Take supplements: B-vitamins help reduce homocysteine, which has been linked to stroke. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN), supplementing with low levels of B vitamins can significantly lower homocysteine levels within 6 weeks. The AJCN study recommends taking 1mg folic acid, 10mg vitamin B6 and 400mcg vitamin B12. Another study published in The Lancet, showed that folic acid alone reduced the risk of stroke by 18 per cent, while a combination of beta-carotene, selenium, vitamin E and A, and zinc reduced stroke deaths by 29 per cent.
* Add garlic and ginger to your cooking: Garlic is believed to have several cardiovascular benefits, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and anti- stroke activity. Additionally, garlic oil can also reduce blood coagulation. Ginger can also reduce blood clotting. 5 grams per day of raw ginger for just one week led to a 37 per cent drop in the blood-clotting agent thromboxane.
As for aspirin? Well, if you are using aspirin as a preventative measure against stroke it’s probably best not to stop using it immediately without speaking to your doctor first to assess your personal risk/benefit ratio.
A 2003 study demonstrated how severe angina and fatal heart attacks might be prompted by the sudden halt of daily aspirin intake.
In reviewing more than 1,200 cases of coronary episodes, French researchers found 51 patients suffered heart attacks or other severe coronary problems less than one week after they stopped using aspirin. Subjects with a history of heart disease were at particularly high risk.
Stroke: Related Reading:
Folate deficiency may increase stroke risk - http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/brain-nervous/folate-deficiency-increase-stroke-risk-00712.html
Drinking Coffee Reduces Risk Of Stroke, Cancer And Dementia - http://www.thehealthierlife.co.uk/natural-health-articles/nutrition/coffee-reduces-cancer-stroke-alzheimers-dementia-56347.html
Sources:
‘The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Research for the practicing dentist’, by Drs BRUCE L. PIHLSTROM & LAWRENCE TABAK, published online dental.uthscsa.edu/research/ResearchDentalPractice.pdf
‘Blood Thinners and Nutritional Supplement’, by Dr. Lam, published online, drlam.com/opinion/blood_thinners_and_nutritional_supplement.a sp
‘Antioxidant status and immunohistochemical analysis of soft tissues in periodontal diseases’ Biofactors. 2005;25(1- 4):213-7
Lancet, 2007; 369: 1876-82
Am J Clin Nutr, 1993; 57: 47-53
Stroke, 2002; 33: 2351-6
Curr Vasc Pharmacol, 2009; 7: 414-22
BMJ, 2003; 327: 1228-9
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