Stroke Essay

Americans are faced with health complications such as stroke each and every day. Stroke, also called “brain attack” is the third leading cause of deaths in the United States, killing more women each year than breast cancer. According to World Health Organization, fifteen million people suffer from stroke worldwide each year and about 700,000 in the United States. Among the people, it can be inferred that there is a poor public awareness of stroke. There are also many myths about stroke and one of them states that stroke is not preventable. It is also said that strokes cannot be treated, can only strike the elderly and its recovery happens for a few months post-stroke. When in reality, about 80% of strokes are preventable, it requires critical emergency treatment, can happen to anyone of any age, and occurs in the brain. It is also imperative to know that its recovery can continue throughout life.

Everyone knows that the heart is a vital organ and we cannot live without it. It is complex and important; therefore it is critical to know how it works. With knowledge about the heart and what is good and bad for it, one can significantly decrease the risk for diseases. Now, the heart has three layers. Endocardium is the smooth inside lining, myocardium id is the middle layer of heart muscle, and it is surrounded by a fluid filled sac called the pericardium. The heart is split into four parts; some may call it chamber or rooms. These parts are the: right atrium, the left atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle. The chambers are separated by partition walls known as the septum and each has a one-way valve that prevents blood from flowing backwards.

These four parts help the heart pump blood throughout the body. The right...

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...story of high blood pressures, it would be better to have it checked more than that. High blood pressure can result from having too much salt on one’s diet. It is important to decrease or stop using salt on foods, and eat as healthy as possible. In addition, people may choose to lose weight, and exercise regularly to control hyper tension.

Another controllable risk factor is having high cholesterol and coronary heart disease. High cholesterol can increase risk by blocking blood flow and clogging blood vessels which also increases the risk for a heart disease. Cholesterol is a soft fat in the bloodstream and having a level off 200 is considered high. Cholesterol is needed in the body in order to form hormones, and vitamin D. High levels of it, however, could lead to the buildup of plaque on artery walls, which can clog arteries and cause a heart or brain attack.