New research indicates that taking a more proactive approach to treating blood pressure issues in older adults has the potential to reduce the risk of suffering from a stroke.
This research comes from Wiley and was recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. They looked at nine different trials with data that referenced more than 38,000 individuals between the ages of 66 and 84.
And what they found was that on average, if a stroke was going to be prevented, the average time of preventative treatment involved was about 1.7 years. Doctors have understood that it takes time to actively prevent health issues, but there wasn’t much known about exactly how much time is needed to effectively prevent a stroke from occurring. And while this is just a start to furthering that information, it is a good step forward toward helping those at a higher risk of stroke live healthier, longer lives.
It takes time for doctors to help someone who is at high risk of stroke take steps to improve their health. The sooner this process begins, the better.
For those with higher blood pressure (systolic pressure above 190 mmHg) the average time that it took to effectively prevent a stroke was just under that 1.7 year period. For those with blood pressure below the 150 mmHg point, it took a bit longer than 1.7 years to effectively prevent a stroke. However, the fact remained: if blood pressure treatment was going to have an impact on reducing the likelihood of stroke from occurring, it took quite a bit of time for treatments to be effective. The sooner these treatments begin, the more likely they are to help prevent a stroke.
Stroke prevention is always better than stroke treatment. If the issues that come along with having a stroke can be completely prevented, this is always preferable. Thousands of dollars and hours of pain can be avoided by not having to go through speech and physical therapy. Extra help around the house can be avoided. Prevention is always the best choice. That’s why it’s important to speak with a doctor if you have concerns or questions about what can be done to help prevent a stroke, heart attack, or any other catastrophic health event.
But if you or a loved one have already had a stroke and need assistance, prevention is not at the top of your list. Assistance is. That’s why it’s important to have a team on your side that can help. Working with a doctor is important, and after that, your team will vary based upon what the present needs are. And because these things can change, your team should change, too.
At some point, you might find that senior care should be included in that team. That’s where we can help. If you have any questions about care or would like to learn more about what we do, please feel free to reach out. One of our trained professionals would love to talk more about how we can help someone dealing with stroke recovery live a better life.
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