"9 out of 10 stroke cases are preventable," researcher from McMaster University said.
Dr. Martin O'Donnell, lead author of the study, explained that 90 percent of stroke cases on men and women are related to various risk factors. So far, people thought that strokes can strike anyone anytime. However, a team of scientists managed to prove that 90 percent of the strokes risk factors are preventable.
Stroke risk factors
The large scope study analyzed 27,000 people in 32 countries. Hypertension is placed at number one of the risk factors contribute to strokes. Other than high blood pressure, there are nine other stroke risk factors including alcohol consumption, poor diet, diabetes, cardiac causes, smoking, obesity, stress and lack of physical activity, Eurekalert reported. According to the researchers, the 10 modifiable risk factors are the major causes of 90 percent of strokes.
Researchers then found that the risk factors may vary according to the region. For instance, hypertension is the most common stroke risk factor in Australia and Southeast Asia. In China, strokes are mostly caused by physical inactivity.
The study hopes to make people more aware of stroke risk factors
If more people become aware of stroke triggers, they can prevent them by switching to healthier lifestyle such as doing physical exercises and choosing healthy diet.
Scientists, education institutions and medical programs plan to develop better strokes preventions including distribution of affordable medication for hypertension as well as educating public about the risk factors. This will help to reduce the numbers of deaths due to strokes every year.
Stroke - the leading cause of death in many regions
Stroke is the leading cause of death in many countries with two most common types include stroke caused by blood clots and bleeding in the brain. The public health has put stroke prevention as one of the priority and up to this day, researchers still have to investigate further to better understand the disease.
