If your aging parent enjoys the occasional glass or wine, beer, or other type of alcohol, you may wonder if it could negatively affect their health. While some research shows that small or moderate amounts of some kinds of alcoholic beverages are safe or may even have health benefits, a recent study indicates that even small amounts could increase the risk of stroke.
The Alcohol and Stroke Risk Study
Researchers from four organizations (Oxford University in the UK, Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Peking Union Medical College) worked together to examine how drinking moderate amounts of alcohol affects health. To find out, they gathered data concerning more than 500,000 people in China.
The results of the study showed that moderate drinking raised the risk of stroke in the participants by up to 35 percent. They also found that, when it comes to stroke, alcohol has no protective effect.
Risk Factors for Stroke
Doctors don’t currently consider moderate drinking to be a risk factor for stroke, but heavy or binge drinking is. There are many other risk factors for stroke. They are divided into controllable and non-controllable risk factors.
Non-controllable factors are those that your elderly parent cannot do anything about. They include:
- Age.
- Having a family history of stroke.
- Race (African-Americans have a higher risk of stroke than Caucasians do).
- Gender (women have a higher stroke risk than men).
- Having had a stroke in the past.
Controllable risk factors are the ones you can help your parent do something about. They include:
High Blood Pressure: Make sure your parent has their blood pressure checked and keeps it under control by following the doctor’s advice.
High Cholesterol: Excess cholesterol in the blood can cause blood clots and lead to stroke.
Obesity: Losing as little as 5 pounds can make a difference in stroke risk.
Smoking: Smoking harms the cardiovascular system, which increases stroke risk.
Diabetes: Diabetes itself is a risk factor for stroke. In addition, many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. They are also often overweight.
Diet: Eating a diet low in saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, and salt can reduce stroke risk.
Lack of Exercise: Not getting enough exercise can lead to all kinds of health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Senior care providers can help your parent to manage controllable stroke risks. A senior care provider can help to plan and prepare healthy meals that can help with weight loss and reduce stroke risk. Senior care providers can also increase physical activity by driving them to a gym or exercise class or going for walks with them. Senior care providers can also help to manage high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol by reminding them to take medications on schedule.
Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324889.php
https://www.strokeassociation.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/stroke-risk-factors-you-can-control-treat-and-improve
https://www.strokeassociation.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/stroke-risk-factors-not-within-your-control
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113
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