Please provide some do's and don'ts for stroke patients.

Know: Know your blood pressure and cholesterol levels then get them down.

Controlling: Controlling high blood pressure can reduce your risk of stroke.

Daily: Daily supplementation with omega-3 fish oil can reduce your risk of stroke.

Have: Have an annual physical to find any problems early.

Reducing: Reducing the amount of fat in your body can reduce the risk of stroke.

Regular: Regular aerobic exercise can reduce your risk of stroke.

A new TipTap: Aspirin on alternate days is hugely effective in preventing ischemic stroke, and lowering chd risks!

A new TipTap: The initial and primary goal in treatment of stroke is brain injury prevention and reversal.

A new TipTap: Eliminate all risk factors for developing heart disease, diabetes and hypertension.

A new TipTap: Be taken to an er as quickly as possible for tpa (alteplase) treatment. Minutes count and are precious!

A new TipTap: It's a myth that: people can't get better after a stroke... It takes work and dedication.

A new TipTap: The first thing to do is call 911. Time is of the essence!

A new TipTap: Baby Aspirin and a low fat diet.

A new TipTap: Propioception exercises are good for stroke rehab.

A new TipTap: Metanx is a good food supplement before and after stroke.

A new TipTap: Tumeric helps brain blood flow.

A new TipTap: Both right brain and left brain activity are important before and after stroke.

A new TipTap: Appropriate strength training is important after stroke.

A new TipTap: 1. Maintain blood pressure level; 2. Control cholesterol level; 3. Know signs and symptoms of stroke.

1.: 1. Control high blood pressure. 2. Rehab intensively, lots of exercise/stretching within tolerance.

Be: Be seen immediately, and preferably in an er within the first hour of having symptoms.

Clot: Clot busting medications can be very effective, if given in the first 3 hours of having a stroke.

Family: Family history is another risk so if you have hypertension, treat it fully and daily meds.

If: If physician states you have a high risk cholesterol problem, treat it aggressively.

Daily: Daily taking of medication to thin blood, control bp, lower cholesterol, light exercise.

Take: Take your meds, watch your fat intake, get aerobic exercise, avoid cigarette smoke, relax.

Take: Take preventative meds, get rehab such as pt, ot, speech therapies, and get exercise.

Control: Control blood pressure, do aerobic exercise, watch your weight, eat low fat foods, avoid smoking.

DO: Do - consider joining a support group for people who have had strokes. Support is crucial.

DO: Do - work with your physician to maintain a healthy blood pressure range.

DO: Do - maintain a healthy cholesterol level with your physician's help.

DO: Do - keep diabetes well controlled if you have suffered a stroke.

DO: Do - be patient with yourself. It will take a while to adjust to new limitations.

DON'T: Don't - isolate. Continue to interact with family & friends & remain active.

DO: Do - educate yourself. Learn about the cause & treatment of strokes & about how others cope with it.

Eat: Eat healthy diet, avoid salt, check blood pressure, check blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides.

Early: Early recognition of signs of depression & treating it can have a great benefit on future health post-stroke.

Don't: Don't let stroke related weakness stop you. Stay as active as possible.

If: If you are a male over 50, strive to take in at least 30 grams of fiber per day.

If: If you a woman who is over 50 with a history of strokes - eat at least 21 grams of fiber per day.

If: If you are a male who is 50 or under, take in at least 38 grams of fiber per day.

If: If you are woman who is 50 or younger, eat at least 25 grams of fiber per day.

High: High blood pressure can be a silent killer. Work closely with your doctor to maintain a good bp.

When: When is it good to aim low? When you are referring to cholesterol level (200 mg/dl or below).

Heavy: Heavy alcohol consumption & binge drinking increase your stroke risk. Keep a tight reign on alcohol use.

Good: Good control of blood sugar is important to reduce risks for further strokes.

Your: Your doctor needs to know if you have been on hormone replacement therapy.

Physical: Physical activity is important. Talk to your doctor about any recommended exercise limitations.

Controlling: Controlling diabetes , high blood pressure and high cholesterol all protect against strokes.

Exercise: Exercise daily, low fat diet and baby Aspirin will help keep you healthy and trim.

Triglyceride: Triglyceride elevation and homocysteine elevation seem risk factors in many stroke patients.

No: No smoking, control blood pressure, check for elevated triglycerides or homocysteine.

Controlling: Controlling blood pressure is very important. Check it at home and keep it in check.

Take: Take your meds. Do not smoke! never stop your rehab please.

Have: Have an oral exam done to determine if you have gum disease. Gum disease has systemic manifestations.

Do: Do call 911 for any symptom of a stroke! don't wait. The shorter the time, the more treatment options.

Quit: Quit smoking. People that smoke have about 2 times the chance of getting a stroke.

Call: Call 911 if "fast" : face droop, arm dropped to side, speech slurred, time is of the essence. Asap!

IF: If you suspect a stroke then get to er asap. There is a very small window to get clot busting drugs.

Eat: Eat healthy food, avoid smoking, drink a little red wine, have olive oil.

Be: Be compliant with your meds, don't be afraid to exercise, and do not gain weight.

Learn: Learn to recognize stroke: any sudden change in vision, speaking, muscle strength may be stroke.

Sudden: Sudden loss of vision in one eye or the other may be a stoke.

Numbness: Numbness or paralysis on one side of your body or the other may be a stroke.

Droopiness: Droopiness on one side or the other of your face may be a stroke.

Preventing: Preventing additional strokes is very important!

Once: Once stroke has occurred, have ongoing checkups, take anti-platelet and anti-lipid drugs.

Nothing: Myth: nothing can be done. Fact: clot-busters can sometimes keep symptoms from becoming permanent.

For: For those at risk for stroke, Aspirin significantly reduces the risk.

Have: Have routine doctor visits to check for developing stroke risk factors.

Carotid: Carotid endarterectomy is effective for recurrent stroke prevention when there is artery blockage.

High: High triglyceride levels increase stroke risk more than high cholesterol levels.

If: If you get to the er quickly after you notice the problem a stroke may be reversible.

Ritalin (methylphenidate): Ritalin (methylphenidate) is useful in speech therapy rehab to speed recovery.

1:: 1. Monitor blood pressure 2. Take baby Aspirin 3. Review family history 4. Discuss with family md.

*: Stop smoking. Exercise daily. Daily aspirin. Control of: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes.

ARBS: Angiotensin receptor blockers have been shown to protect the brain more than other classes of anti-hypertensives!

Chili: Chili peppers spice up your meal & can help to prevent stroke. (reduce clots!).

Brain: Brain plasticity, aggressive rehabilitation, social support and patient's motivation are key factors.

Vitamin: Vitamin and antioxidant supplements do not prevent strokes.

Very: Very low vit. D levels are associated with a 22-64% increase in stroke! take vit. D3 2000 iu/day!

Minocycline,: Minocycline, an antibiotic, given immediately after stroke, improves recovery & outcome!

Do: Do go to the hospital right away, even if weakness or speech impairment has resolved, go to er.

Act: Act fast if you see facial drooping, arm not moving, speech slurred, because time is of the essence.

Aspirin: Aspirin (81mg/day); exercise/body movement; omega 3 fatty acids (1200mg epa/day taken with a meal).

Male,: Male, female smokers face same stroke risk. One way women don't want to be equal. Quit if you can!

Treatment: Treatment with in 90 mins of stroke with clot busters linked to better outcomes.

TPA, (alteplase): Tpa, (alteplase) a blood clot buster, given w/ in 90 mins of symptoms has best chance of reversing a stroke.

TPA, (alteplase): Tpa, (alteplase) a blood clot buster, if given w/ in 90 mins of symptoms gives the best chance of full recovery.

If: If you get to a hospital & get treated for a stroke in less than 3 hours your recovery is greater.

When: When treating atrial fibrillation: 1st, control rate; 2nd, anticoagulate; 3rd, normalize rhythm.

If: If you have spasticity, make sure to ask your physician if botulinum toxin could help!