Tag Archives: risks

8 Things You Can do To Help Prevent a Stroke

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According to the CDC, stoke is the fifth leading cause of death in America, claiming over 130,000 lives annually. While there is no sure-fire way to ensure you will never have a stroke, there are several things you can do to decrease your modifiable risk factors for stroke, drastically lessening your chance of experiencing one. Things like age, ethnicity and genetics cannot be changed, but let’s take a look at the things that are within your control to change in order to help lower your risk of having a stroke:

  1. Keep those numbers down – Are your blood pressure and cholesterol a little on the higher side? You should work at bringing those numbers down to the normal zone, as they can be key contributors to stroke, as well as heart attacks.
  2. Wine more (in moderation) – drinking too much alcohol (an average of 2 or more glasses daily), will significantly raise your risk of stroke. However, studies show that drinking one glass of red wine daily or a few times weekly may actually help lower your risk of stroke (a substance in red wine called resveratrol seems to play a part in stroke prevention).
  3. Get off the couch! Leading a sedentary lifestyle raises your risk of developing a stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, as well as other serious conditions. Activity is an integral part of any balanced, healthy lifestyle, so get out there and find your favorite exercise activity today!
  4. Shed those extra lbs – Carrying extra weight also compounds the risks of being sedentary, so if you have both those things going on, try to shed those pounds as you get more active!
  5. Quit smoking – Smoking is linked with many life-threatening conditions, and stroke is no exception. Your risk of having a stroke is also significantly raised if you are a smoker.
  6. Manage other health conditions – Uncontrolled diabetes or heart conditions can also lead to a stoke because of the added strain placed on the body when things like blood sugar or blood pressure aren’t controlled. Also, those with atrial fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia) should ensure their condition is well managed as it can also add to your risk of having a stroke.
  7. Lower your stress – Chronic stress isn’t good for anyone in any way. Perpetually spiking cortisol and adrenaline levels appear have a part to play when it comes to stroke risk as well as many other health conditions (as does depression). So, try to find a stress management plan that works best for you today, or talk to a doctor if you think you are depressed.
  8. Tweak your diet – Just as it is important to get enough exercise to help ward off scary medical emergencies like a stroke, your diet plays an equally as essential role. High cholesterol foods like burgers, cheese and heavy creams should only be eaten as treats, and you should concentrate more on produce, fish and whole grains to lower your health risks.

Thus concludes our look at stroke prevention, thanks for visiting DocChat!

Therapeutic Massage Part 2 – Risks, Tips and Cautions

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Massage is a widely popular alternative therapy that many look to for stress and pain management, as well as for its potential to ease symptoms of certain health conditions. In Part 1, we took a closer look at some of the conditions helped by massage. In this post we want to touch on more conditions that may see benefits from massage, as well as to look at potential risks and how to choose which type of massage for you.

Other Conditions That May Benefit From Massage

Massage has also been known to help with the following conditions as well:

  1. Anxiety
  2. Fibromyalgia
  3. Headaches
  4. Insomnia related to stress
  5. Temporomandibular joint pain
  6. Soft tissue injuries
  7. Certain digestive disorders

Potential Risks of Therapeutic Massage

As we have illustrated, therapeutic massage can have many potential benefits, however, as with anything there are risks associated with massage as well. Some of which include blood clots, contracting an infectious disease, nerve damage or bruising for massages that are too rough. Also, there are certain people who shouldn’t have massages, including those with bleeding disorders, open wounds or severe osteoporosis. It is important to talk to your doctor before beginning any kind of alternative therapy such as therapeutic massage to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks for your specific health situation.

How to Choose What Kind of Massage to Get?

There are various types of massage out there such as Swedish (whole-body), shiatsu (finger pressure massage), reflexology (pressure points), hot stone, Reiki, and deep tissue massage. According to WebMD, the most common type of massage is the whole-body relaxation massage that is designed to relax all the muscles, joints and tissues, aiming for stress and pain management. Everyone is different, and the type of massage that will best suit you likely depends on your condition, overall health and the outcomes you wish to obtain from the massage. Be sure to research your masseuse extensively to ensure you are going to a certified, good quality massage therapist who will help you the most. Check out the American Massage Therapy Association database for good options.

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