All material copyright 2005.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Durham, North Carolina
(919)489-4974
For staff e-mail call # above
or e-mail Gail
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assistant
Stroke Prevention
In the April 30th issue of the newsletter, I talked about
how to recognize the signs of a stroke and what to do if
you notice any of them (call 9-1-1). The focus of this article
is on stroke prevention.
Everyone has some stroke risk factors. Some are beyond
your control, such as being over 55, being a male, having
diabetes, and having a family history of stroke. If you have
one of these risk factors, it is even more important that you
learn about the lifestyle and medical changes you can make
to prevent a stroke.
The medical risk factors include a previous stroke, an episode
of transient ischemic attack (TIA), high cholesterol,
high blood pressure, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and
carotid artery disease. These risk factors can be controlled,
with the help of your physician. Please do not take any of
these conditions lightly.
Almost 2/3 of all strokes could be prevented with treatment
of the underlying condition. High blood pressure is
the number one cause of stroke. Because controlling our
blood pressure is so important, we will begin having “Blood
Pressure Sundays” on the second Sunday of each month.
I, or another nurse in our congregation, will be available in
my office to check your blood pressure after each morning
worship service on those Sundays. I am also available in
my office on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or
by appointment to meet you at the church or at your home
at other times. I am available to you to help you control
your blood pressure. Just call the church office (489-4974).
The lifestyle risk factors include smoking, being overweight,
and drinking too much alcohol. The good news is that
these are all about your choices, so you can change them!
I will also be glad to work with you on any of the other risk
factors you may be dealing with. We have dieticians in our
congregation who can counsel you on low-cholesterol, lowfat,
low-sodium, or diabetic diets. We will soon be starting
a congregational exercise program. If you smoke, we can
discuss some smoking cessation options. And if alcohol is
an issue in your family, let’s talk.
So please, please don’t be the next person in our congregation
to suffer a stroke. Talk to your doctor, know your
numbers (blood pressure & cholesterol), and make all the
modifications you can in your lifestyle. Your brain is a gift
from God – protect it!