Health Risks Stroke
Based on your genetics, your genetic predisposition for Stroke is
What does this mean?
Your genotypes indicate that you have a typical risk for stroke.
How Is Your Genetic Risk Calculated?
1.91
This result is based on the SNPs(single nucleotide polymorphism)that are associated with Stroke.
Risk Factors Can Influence The Risk of Developing Stroke
Genetics are NOT the only risk factor for Stroke.
Stroke is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors. Now that you have learnt about your genetic risk, you can determine how aggressively you need to make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk.
The earlier in your life that you commit to living a healthy lifestyle, the more you can reduce your risk for or delay the development of Stroke.
Weight
Excess body weight and obesity are linked with an increased risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Losing as little as 2 to 5 kg can make a significant difference in your risks.
Diet
Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in sodium (salt) can increase blood pressure. Diets with high calories can lead to obesity.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for stroke. Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and are overweight — increasing their risk even more.
Smoking
The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system and pave the way for a stroke.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading cause of stroke and the most significant controllable risk factor.
Family History
Having family members who had a stroke, especially before the age of 65, increases the risk of developing a stroke.
Gender
Women have more strokes than men and strokes kill more women than men. Women tend to live longer than men and are older when they have a stroke. Men are more prone to get a minor stroke at a younger age.
Age
The likelihood of having a stroke increases with age for both males and females and is more common in people above age 65.
Suggested Lifestyle Changes
Dietary Recommendations:
- Limiting the intake of saturated fats, salt (sodium), and alcohol while increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, and potassium can help to reduce stroke risk.
- Modest consumption of fish (e.g. 1-2 servingsorweek) which contains omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of stroke.
- Increase lycopene intake. Low levels of lycopene are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Lycopene can be found in red and pink plants and vegetables, for example, tomatoes, red carrots, watermelon, pink grapefruits.
- Reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates (processed foods: cakes, pasta, cookies, donuts), sugar and refined starches. Instead, take cereal fiber as it may help reduce stroke.
- Having a Mediterranean diet can significantly decrease stroke risk. Mediterranean diet is rich in green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts every day, olive oil, and fish.
Lifestyle Recommendations:
- Maintain healthy body weight to reduce stroke risk. Overweight and obese individuals are at a higher risk to develop strokes.
- Quit smoking as studies have shown that stroke risk decreased significantly after stopping cigarette smoking. This is by improving vascular health and reducing plaque formation.
- Reduce alcohol consumption as too much alcohol can cause blood vessel damage and oxidative stress which increases the risk of having a stroke.
Exercise Recommendations:
- Maintain healthy body weight to reduce stroke risk. Overweight and obese individuals are at a higher risk to develop strokes.
- Quit smoking as studies have shown that stroke risk decreased significantly after stopping cigarette smoking. This is by improving vascular health and reducing plaque formation.
- Reduce alcohol consumption as too much alcohol can cause blood vessel damage and oxidative stress which increases the risk of having a stroke.
Result Explanation Recommendations:
- Physical exercise has been associated with lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
- Regularly exercising from a younger age can help to lower the risk to develop Parkinson? disease in an individual? later years.
- Establish a regular exercise routine of at least 75 minutes per week to promote flexibility, strength, mobility and balance.
- Physical exercises, such as walking training, t'ai chi and tango dancing, have been reported to improve disease symptoms, mobility, balance, gait and quality of life.