A study out of Ireland found that there was a strong association between exposure to air pollution and the likelihood that someone would have a stroke. What this team found was that stroke hospitalizations were much higher in the 48 hours period after observations of higher than normally observed air pollution levels.
Surprisingly, one of the contributing factors to poor air quality was the weather. Generally speaking, air pollution tends to be worse in the winter months. Coarse particles of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are more likely to be found in the air, having a negative impact on cardiovascular health.
The research was conducted by the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. Their findings were published in the journal, Cerebrovascular Disease.
This is not the first study of this kind. Other studies performed in the U.S. have had similar findings. One study conducted a few years ago found that stroke rates were higher in urban areas than they were in rural farmland. Other studies have found that average life expectancy is a bit higher in rural parts than they are in cities, citing similar reasons for the discrepancy. Unfortunately, not a lot of people have control over where they are located. Asking someone with other risk factors of stroke or cardiovascular disease to relocate for the sake of their health is not a realistic venture. However, knowledge of these risk factors can empower people to take steps to compensate for them. Sometimes, just being aware of these things can help people to take the corrective steps needed to live a higher quality of life and improve their health outcomes.
Now, air pollution is certainly not the only factor that will determine whether or not someone will have a stroke. Diet, exercise, genetic predisposition, and smoking all play a prominent role in influencing this type of thing. And some of these things we have more control of than others. Things like smoking and diet we can control, while genetics that have been passed down from generation to generation are beyond our control.
A stroke is a significant event. While they are not always fatal, they can have a profound impact on how someone lives the rest of their life. Having a team on your side to help you and your family is important. That’s where a service like Paradise In-Home Care can be of help.
Strokes can be preventable. As mentioned above, taking charge of some of the risk factors that you may be predisposed to can help you to lower your risk of having a stroke. But strokes will still happen. Knowing what to do in the event of a stroke is key. This is why we train all of our in-home caregivers thoroughly in emergency procedures. If a stroke is detected and treated within the first two hours of occurring, people tend to have a much higher chance of a recovery. It minimizes the amount of disability that will be present afterward and can help someone to live a better life, even after a stroke has taken place.
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