Stroke is the 3^rd leading cause of death in Canada with over 50,000 Canadians suffering from some form of stroke each year.  A recent study called the Interstroke study, published by Lancet online in June, is being held as the largest international case-control study to assess the importance of risk factors for stroke.  The study which took place over a period of 3 years in 22 countries around the world, accounts for varying levels of modifiable and non-modifiable predictors of stroke.

 After studying 3000 participants from various backgrounds, the researchers have identified 10 major risk factors that account for 90% of stroke cases.  In order of most significant to least, the risk factors involved are the following:

Risk Factors

1)     High blood pressure – measuring consistently higher than 140/90

2)     Smoking

3)     Abdominal obesity

4)     Diet high in saturated fats and salt

5)     Lack of physical activity

6)     Diabetes

7)     Alcohol consumption (<30 drinks/month)

8)     Psychological or social problems like depression

9)     Heart arrhythmias

10)  Specific blood proteins that store fat

 When it comes to stroke risk, there are factors that can’t be controlled like age, race and sex but knowing that 90% of risk factors are modifiable, the rates of stroke should be decreasing yet it remains as one of the top 5 causes of death in Canada.

 It is not news that high blood pressure, including the other risk factors, plays a major role in determining chances of stroke.  Untreated high blood pressure has been known as the silent killer for quite some time but studies of this magnitude clearly expose the importance of following a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity and talking care of one’s body.   Like any study, these results are not conclusive but the next phase of the study plans to investigate another 10,000 participants in which the results will certainly be significant, if not, revolutionary.

 What can you do right now?

It’s easy to say that you’ll stop drinking or smoking or that that you’ll start exercising but actually doing it is always the hardest part.    Start with small goals.  Researchers also noticed that those following a Mediterranean diet seemed to have substantially lower risk of stroke.  A Mediterranean diet allows you to incorporate foods that you might already love like fruits, vegetables and grains, meats and by making a few tiny adjustments, you can put yourself on the right track.  The idea is to consume more fish than red meat, substitute butter for olive oil and allow for moderate consumption of red wine as well as use herbs and spices instead of salt.  The diet is supposed to be light on the heart and likely isn’t a dramatic change to your lifestyle.  With one aspect of your life in the right direction, you can start to work on other areas of your life that might be putting you at risk.

 The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada can help.  In Quebec, there are various programs that help educate and motivate the population about stroke prevention and stroke maintenance.

• They offer CPR courses that teach how to recognize the signs of a stroke and how to respond if someone may be suffering from one;
• Heart at Work is a great tool that can be used by employers to help encourage healthy practices in the workplace;
• Heart in Motion is modeled after a unique program in Ireland that designates walk zones to allow you to measure the distance travelled.  In Quebec, these walk zones are implemented in Laval, Sherbrooke, Cote-St-Luc, Kirkland, Beauport, St-Adolphe d’Howard, Trois-Rivières, Rimouski, Longueuil, St-Hyacinthe and Chibougamau;
• If you want more information about how to live with heart issues, Take Life to Heart can help identify risky behaviours and introduce ways to reduce them.

 If you are concerned about your situation or someone you know, visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation at www.heartandstroke.qc.ca  for more information about the disease.