HIMPower Magazine HimPower November 2017 | Page 27

Men and
Stroke
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in men, killing almost the
same number of men each year as prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s
disease combined. Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability
among American men. In addition, men have strokes at younger ages
than women.
These facts are alarming, but there is some good news: Up to
80% of strokes can be prevented. This means it is important
to know your risk of having a stroke and taking action to reduce
that risk.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when blood flow to
an area of the brain is cut off. When brain cells are starved of oxygen,
they die. Stroke is a medical emergency. It’s important to get treatment
as soon as possible. A delay in treatment increases the risk of
permanent brain damage or death.
What Puts Men at Risk of Stroke?
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High blood pressure is a main risk factor for stroke, yet nearly
one in three men with high blood pressure does not know he
has it.
Smoking damages blood vessels, which can cause a stroke. Men
are more likely to be smokers than women.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of stroke. Almost
3 in 4 American men are in weight ranges that increase their risk
for stroke.
More men than women have been diagnosed with diabetes,
which increases your risk of stroke because it can cause disease
of blood vessels in the brain.
Charles Stanley
Linda Stanley awoke to a loud noise in her home but was
puzzled because she knew her husband Charles should
have been at work. She searched the house and called his
name, but she didn’t hear any response. When she
entered the living room, she found Charles lying on the
floor. His work truck was still idling in the driveway. Linda
wasted no time calling 9-1-1.
It turned out that Charles, who is African American,
had a stroke even though he was only 52 years old.
African-American men are at a greater risk of stroke
than any other group of men and have strokes at
younger ages.
“At first, I couldn’t do anything. People on TV sounded
like they were speaking a strange language,” Charles
remembers. “I got so frustrated!”
Charles spent 3 days in the intensive care unit and 4
weeks in a rehabilitation center. He worked with
therapists to learn how to read, write, and walk again.
Charles realized that he had to make some changes in
his lifestyle to avoid another stroke. He lost nearly 100
pounds and worked with his health care providers to
get his blood pressure under control. He’s also changed
his eating habits and does an hour of cardio exercise
every day.
Charles and Linda have advice for others at risk for stroke:
“Take care of yourself. Get moving, lose weight, stop
smoking—these steps will help people avoid a stroke,”
Charles recommends. His wife adds, “Know the signs of
stroke. Be ready to call 9-1-1 if you think someone’s
having a stroke.”
Men are more likely than women to drink too much alcohol,
increasing the risk for stroke.
Being inactive can increase the risk of stroke. Only 1 in 4 men
gets enough physical activity, even though exercising only 30
minutes a day can decrease the risk of stroke.
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention
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