What Are the Top Risk Factors for a Stroke?
Stroke awareness is important all year long.
While May is the month where stroke awareness is particularly displayed, it is even essential to know about strokes throughout the year, as well. There are many risk factors for a stroke that you should know about. If your elderly loved one has these risk factors, you should be sure to help them prevent a stroke with medications, exercise, a healthy diet, and regular doctor’s appointments.
Elderly Care in Beech Grove IN: Stroke Top Risk Factors
Heredity
Heredity is one of the top risk factors for a stroke. If your elderly loved one has a brother, sister, parent, grandparent, or another family member that has had a stroke, their risk for having a stroke will be higher, as well. This is especially the case if one of their family members had a stroke before they were 65 years of age. Oftentimes, strokes can be caused by a genetic disorder. These disorders usually block the blood flow to and from the brain.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is another risk factor for a stroke. Research shows that people who have heart disease have double the risk of having a stroke than those without heart disease. This is mainly the case in those who had atherosclerosis. If your elderly loved one has heart disease, be sure they see their doctor to have it managed properly. Without proper treatment, the risk of a stroke increases even more.
High Blood Pressure
Does your elderly loved one have high blood pressure? Studies show that people with high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) have an increased stroke risk, as well. If your elderly loved one is prescribed blood pressure medication, you or their elderly care providers may need to ensure they are taking it properly. If their blood pressure isn’t managed properly, their risk of having a stroke will be much higher than with all of the other factors mentioned here today.
High Cholesterol
If your elderly loved one has high cholesterol, they should be sure to manage it properly. First, you or one of the elderly care providers may need to take your elderly loved one to the doctor. The doctor can create a treatment plan for your loved one’s cholesterol. From there, as long as the cholesterol stays under control, your elderly loved one can lower their risk of having a stroke.
Conclusion
These are some of the top risk factors for a stroke. If your elderly loved one has any of these risk factors, be sure to help them make healthier lifestyle choices, so they can try to prevent a stroke.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elderly Care in Beech Grove, IN, please call the caring staff at Home Services Unlimited. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: (317) 471-0760
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/risk_factors.htm
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where she was the In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
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