Focus on Stroke Prevention

Even though you don't feel sick, you can still have risk factors that can increase risk of having a stroke. But it is important to realize that stroke can be prevented. Here are some things you can do to lower your risk:

  • Diet - Try to eat 5 or more servings of fruit and vegetables a day, especially those rich in potassium and magnesium (such as broccoli, citrus fruits, and spinach). Eating a balanced diet helps your weight stay in check, and reduces your stroke risk at the same time.
  • Exercise - It only takes walking 3 miles a day, 4 days a week to reduce your risk by nearly 30%. Even moderate, regular physical activity helps lower your risk of stroke. Examples include gardening, yard work and dancing.
  • Medications - Your doctor will develop a plan to help reduce your risk of having a stroke. See your doctor regularly and follow his or her advice. It is important to follow your physician's recommendations and treatment plan if you want to effectively reduce your risk of having a stroke.

If you follow your doctor's suggestions, you are on the right track to a healthier lifestyle.

How Can the PLAC® Test Help Me?

  • High levels of Lp-PLA2 indicate increased risk of having an ischemic stroke
  • If you have one or more traditional risk factors and elevated levels of Lp-PLA2, you can work aggressively with your physician to create a personalized treatment plan
  • Research has shown that certain medications that reduce the incidence of stroke have also been shown to reduce Lp-PLA2 levels1,2

The PLAC test can bring you one step closer to identifying your risk for stroke. Ask your doctor if the PLAC test is right for you.

  

  1. Tsimihodimos V, Kakafika A, Tambaki AP, et al. Fenofibrate induces HDL-associated PAF-AH but attenuates enzyme activity associated with apoB-containing lipoproteins. J Lipid Res. 2003;44:927-934.
  2. Schaefer EJ, McNamara JR, Asztalos BF, et al. Effects of Atorvastatin Versus Other Statins on Fasting and Postprandial C-Reactive Protein and Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease Versus Control Subjects. Am J Cardiol. 2005;95:1025-1032.

Did You Know?

  • Someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; every 3.1 minutes someone dies of a stroke
  • There are 700,000 strokes per year in America
  • Each year, 40,000 more women than men suffer a stroke, and females account for 60% of the yearly stroke fatalities
  • Stroke is the nation's third leading killer and two-thirds of strokes result in moderate to severe long-term disabilities
  • Stroke is a leading cause of severe, long-term disability
  • African Americans have almost twice the risk of stroke as compared with Caucasians
  • Twice as many women die from stroke than breast cancer each year

(Source: American Stroke Association)