Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Fall 2018

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AFIB). This irregular heartbeat significantly raises your stroke risk. If you have it, you’re five times more likely to have a stroke than someone without it. Take charge: Many people with AFib have no noticeable symptoms. But you might notice a racing, fluttering or irregular heartbeat, or you may be short of breath or feel lightheaded. If so, tell your doctor. If your provider does diagnose AFib, you may need anti-coagulant medicine or other treatments to reduce your stroke risk. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for AFib. So keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range can also help prevent AFib. Additional sources: American Stroke Association; National Institutes of Health; National Stroke Association Eat a well-balanced, salt-smart diet. Focus on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry and fish, and nuts and legumes. Avoid palm and coconut oils. And cut down on salt, which can raise blood pressure. Most of the salt we eat comes from processed foods, such as canned goods and soup. So check labels to see how much sodium—an ingredient in salt—a food has before buying it. Try not to eat more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. If you have high blood pressure, you may need to eat even less sodium. 3 Move more. Aim to get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, each week, along with two or more days a week of muscle-strengthening activities. For safety’s sake, check with your health care provider before significantly increasing your activity level. Watch your weight. As your weight creeps up, so can your stroke risk. Take any blood pressure medicine exactly as prescribed. But remember: medicine is never a substitute for any lifestyle changes your doctor also advises. SkyLakes.org | LIVE smart 5 Anyone can have a stroke. Everyone should be ready. Learn the warning signs.