[ALERT] NEW Stroke Risk Factors You NEED to Know
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted May 10, 2023
Strokes are devastating.
They “scramble” your brain and can leave you with difficulties walking, talking, driving, or completing daily chores.
As you age, your risk for one of these events grows. In fact, by the time you reach middle age, your stroke risk rises to an uncomfortable 17 percent.
And the more birthdays you put under your belt, the more likely you are to suffer a stroke. Incredibly, your chance of having one nearly DOUBLES every 10 years after 55.
Most folks can name at least a few of the risk factors for stroke off the top of their head. And it’s likely none of those on the list surprise you. Well, until now.
*****
The most common stroke risk factors include:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- diabetes
- smoking
- birth control pills (oral contraceptives)
- history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
- high red blood cell count
- unhealthy cholesterol and lipids
It’s a list most of us are familiar with.
But according to a new study published in the journal Neurology, there are several MORE you should add to the list. Those are getting too much or too little sleep, taking long naps, poor sleep, snoring, snorting, and sleep apnea.
All of those have something in common: poor sleep.
Folks who clocked in at under five hours of sleep were three times more likely to have a stroke than those who managed seven hours on average.
Plus, those whose naps lasted longer than one hour were 88 percent more likely to have a stroke than those whose 40 winks didn’t last as long.
And it gets worse.
You’re probably okay if you have only one of those problems (say, you snore). But if you have five or more of them, your risk for stroke is FIVE TIMES that of someone who sleeps well and doesn’t have any of those sleep problems.
If you want to reduce the risk of a stroke you need to start taking your sleep seriously. I’ve got some tips to help you do precisely that.
- Exercise is one of the best paths to a good night’s sleep. When your body is physically tired, your mind has no choice but to give in. Find an exercise you love and increase how much you exercise when stressed.
- Avoid caffeine in the afternoon, including coffee, tea, chocolate, and energy drinks.
- Calming herbs such as hops, passionflower, lemon balm, chamomile, and valerian can relax the body and mind.
- Theanine is an amino acid in green tea that helps people feel calm, supporting sleep.
- Melatonin is a hormone you can get as a supplement that promotes good sleep.
Never discount the impact of poor sleep on your health. Commit to getting a good night’s rest tonight and every night, and watch your stroke risk plummet and your health soar.
P.S. A study has found that THIS “healthy” beverage could TRIPLE your stroke risk… even if you only drink it once a day. CLICK HERE for the details.
Source:
“Sleep Patterns and the Risk of Acute Stroke: Results from the INTERSTROKE International Case-Control Study,” 5 April 2013, Neurology. DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000207249
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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