6 surprising things that can cause stroke

Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. In the United States, a person dies of a stroke every four minutes. These statistics published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are troubling; However, strokes can be prevented, treated and even beaten. It starts with some lifestyle adjustments.

We are aware of the major risk factors for stroke, such as smoking and overweight, but Reader's Digest has now identified several other surprising culprits likely to increase the risk of an accident. cerebrovascular.

Here are six surprising elements to pay attention to in order to avoid a stroke:

1. Dietary Beverages – Researchers have found a link between the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages and an increased risk of stroke. While these findings are not definitive, other studies have shown that diet sodas can cause headaches, rashes, mood swings and depression, the Daily Meal noted.

2. Influenza – At least two separate studies have shown that influenza or flu-like symptoms may increase the risk of stroke in the weeks following the illness. This could be partly due to the inflammation that accompanies the flu.

3. Overwork – These overtime hours at the office could be beneficial for the business but not for your health. The researchers found that people who worked more than 55 hours of work a week had a much higher risk of stroke. High stress levels, combined with the fact that there is less time to prepare healthy meals and that exercise can be partly responsible.

4. Illicit drug use and excessive alcohol consumption – Studies have shown that stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamines can cause strokes, even in young, healthy adults. Meanwhile, a night of excessive alcohol consumption can trigger a serious cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.

5. Noise Pollution – Living or working in a noisy area can affect your health. Besides frustration and lack of sleep, noise pollution can also increase the risk of stroke.

6. Gum bleeding – Researchers have discovered a link between gum disease and the increased risk of stroke and other serious cardiovascular events. Experts do not understand the exact relationship between the two, but suspect that the inflammation of the bacteria in the gums could be blamed.