Ask the Expert 18 The Healthy Geezer

Ask the Expert 5 stroke risk factors you can control

BY TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER

Stroke is the No. 5 killer and a leading cause of disability in America.

“Certain uncontrollable circumstances, such as age, family history and gender, may play a role in stroke risk, but there are several risk factors that are within your control,” says Dr. David Teeple, medical director of Tucson Medical Center’s stroke program.

“Regular checkups with your primary care provider can help you identify those risks and control and treat them.”

Here are five conditions you can manage so you can worry less about stroke.

Diabetes

If you have Type 1 or 2 diabetes, controlling your blood sugar can help ward off stroke. Diabetes is a risk factor for stroke all on its own; however, many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol and are overweight, increasing that risk even more. If you need help controlling your diabetes, your primary care provider can help you or refer you to an endocrinologist. If you need a primary care provider, you can find one at tmcaz.com/tmc-one/ one.

Eat those fruits and veggies. Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in sodium can cause high blood pressure, and those with high calories can lead to obesity. All of these can lead to stroke. However, a diet that includes at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day may reduce the risk of stroke.

Obesity

Obesity is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. Even losing a little bit of weight — 5 to 10 pounds — can significantly change those risks. Losing weight and maintaining weight loss can be a real struggle, but taking small steps at a time can make a difference. For example, swap out your afternoon candy bar for an apple and some peanut butter, or instead of a burger at lunch, have a salad with chicken.

Smoking

If you are a smoker, you have a higher risk of stroke because the nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke cause damage to the cardiovascular system. If you are smoking and taking birth control pills, that risk is even greater. For tips on quitting smoking, visit https://bit. ly/3fqayqd.

High blood pressure

This is the leading cause of stroke and the most significant controllable risk factor. Your primary care provider can help you get on a plan to lower your blood pressure. You can also buy a device to check your blood pressure at home. Knowing your numbers and keeping them low can help prevent stroke. For ways on lowering your blood pressure, visit https://bit.ly/3yFwZiB.

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The Healthy Geezer Numerous fi ber sources can help with cholesterol

BY FRED CICETTI

QDoes fi ber in your diet reduce cholesterol?

AThere are two types of fi ber: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fi ber is acted upon by the normal bacteria in your intestines. Insoluble fi ber is not digested by the body and promotes regularity and softens stools. Wheat bran, whole grain products and vegetables are good sources of insoluble fi ber.

Soluble fi ber appears to reduce your body’s absorption of cholesterol from the intestines. Oatmeal contains soluble fi ber that reduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol that can increase your risk of heart attacks high in calories, so use them as replaceand strokes. This type of fi ber is also found ments for high-calorie foods with high in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels levels of saturated fats. sprouts, apples, pears, barley and prunes. Omega-3 fatty acids in fi sh are noted for

The American Dietetic Association rec- lowering triglycerides, another form of fat ommends a healthy diet include 20 to 35 in your blood. They also benefi t the heart grams of fi ber a day, including both sol- in other ways. The highest levels of omeuble and insoluble fi ber. (Soluble fi ber ga-3 fatty acids are in mackerel, lake trout, should make up 5 to 10 grams of your fi - herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmber intake.) However, Americans only con- on. Other good sources of omega-3 fatty sume about half that amount. acids include fl axseed, walnuts, canola oil

There are other foods that work against and soybean oil. cholesterol. Some foods are fortifi ed with plant sub-

Soy protein, found in such products as stances called sterols or stanols, which tofu, soy nuts, soy milk and soy burgers, are similar in structure to cholesterol; this can help lower blood levels of LDL choles- helps them block the absorption of choterol, particularly when it’s substituted for lesterol in the intestines. Margarines and animal protein. Ingesting 25 to 50 grams orange juice that have been fortifi ed with of soy protein a day lowers LDL cholester- plant sterols can help reduce LDL cholesol by 4% to 8%. That’s a lot of soy. People terol by more than 10%. with the highest cholesterol levels seem The American Heart Association recomto benefi t the most from soy protein. mends that foods containing plant sterols

Women with breast cancer or who are should be reserved for adults requiring at high risk of breast cancer should con- lower total and LDL cholesterol levels besult with their doctors before eating soy, cause they are at high risk of — or have because it is not clear how these plant es- had — a heart attack. trogens might aff ect them. You may want to try eating more sol-

Studies have shown that walnuts can uble fi ber, soy protein, walnuts and fatty signifi cantly reduce cholesterol levels in fi sh. The next step would be the addition the blood. Rich in polyunsaturated fatty of foods fortifi ed with plant sterols. Eating acids, walnuts may also help keep blood a combination of these cholesterol-lowervessels healthier and elastic. ing foods increases the benefi t.

When walnuts represent 20% of the cal- Of course, if you’re a geezer and you ories in a cholesterol-lowering diet, they plan to make a change in your habits that reduce LDL cholesterol by 12%. Almonds could aff ect your health, it is recommendappear to have a similar eff ect. All nuts are ed that you consult your doctor fi rst.