Proper prevention keeps the stroke away!

Myocardial infarction refers to sudden blood supply (i.e. vessel responsible for nutrients and oxygen transportation to the heart) interruption of the myocardium due to vessel obstruction, resulting in myocardial ischemia, damages, or necrosis and thus leads to cardiac dysfunction. If the obstructed blood supply cannot be returned to normal range in a short-time, permanent damages to the myocardium or even death may occur, followed by other complications such as arrhythmia, heart failure, etc. 
Stroke, which is also called cerebrovascular accident, ranks the 3rd among top 10 causes of death in Taiwan. It is also the primary cause of disabilities and death in middle-aged and old population. The age of onset in stroke patients has gradually become younger lately. Hence, for stroke management, the concept of “Prevention is better than cure” is becoming well-acknowledged. According to previous long-term studies, annual regular health examinations , daily blood pressure measurement at fixed time, keep good mood and regular exercise, maintain balanced diet (e.g. low-salt, low-sugar and low-fat diet), pay attention to symptoms and signs of stroke, reduce the consumption of animal fat and internal organs and avoid bad habits (e.g. smoking and drinking) are all crucial in the prevention of stoke. For patients with hypertension, DM or heart disease, the best preventive approach to reduce the risks of stroke is to take medications following the instructions of the physician.