To reduce your risk of catastrophic events like stroke or cerebral infarction, it’s essential to keep key indicators in check, monitor important conditions, and avoid common lifestyle traps.

🔎 The 3 Key Indicators (“the triggers in your blood vessels”)

• Blood Pressure: High blood pressure (hypertension) is the number-one risk factor for stroke. CDC+2unmhealth.org+2 Constantly elevated pressure damages vessel walls, making arteries brittle, prone to rupture or clot formation. Experts generally consider about 120/80 mmHg as ideal. Persistent values above 140/90 mmHg call for prompt intervention. ngoisao.vn+1

• Blood Lipids (Cholesterol & Triglycerides): Elevated cholesterol — especially “bad” LDL — and high triglycerides encourage plaque buildup in artery walls (atherosclerosis), narrowing vessels and raising risk of blockage that can lead to stroke or infarction. CDC+2Scripps.org+2

• Blood Sugar (Glucose): High blood sugar — even in people without diabetes — damages the inner lining of blood vessels over time. This can accelerate atherosclerosis and increase risk of cerebral infarction. www.stroke.org+1

Regular check-ups to monitor these three indicators are crucial, even if you feel fine, because many problems develop silently.

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⚠️ The Condition You Must Not Overlook: Atrial Fibrillation (AFib)

Irregular heartbeat from atrial fibrillation significantly elevates stroke risk. Because the atria don’t contract effectively, blood can pool and form clots. If such a clot travels to the brain, it can trigger a serious cerebral infarction. www.heart.org+2Scripps.org+2

In fact, individuals with untreated AFib may have up to 5 times greater stroke risk compared to people with regular heart rhythm. www.heart.org

Thus, if you’re diagnosed with AFib, it’s vital to follow your treatment plan closely — including possible anticoagulant therapy — and also manage other risk factors. ninds.nih.gov+1

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🚫 6 Everyday Habits You Should Never Underestimate

These “harmless” habits quietly add up, increasing your stroke risk over time:

1. Eating too salty: High salt intake raises blood pressure, setting the stage for vascular damage. CDC+1

2. Smoking & excessive alcohol: Smoking harms blood vessels; alcohol can thicken blood and raise blood pressure — both heighten the chance of clots and stroke. CDC+2Scripps.org+2

3. Chronic lack of sleep / staying up late / sleep deprivation: Poor sleep impairs vascular health, disrupts blood pressure and sugar control, and increases stress. While data vary, poor sleep is often linked to increased cardiovascular risk. Scripps.org+1

4. Prolonged physical inactivity (sitting for hours): Sitting too long reduces blood circulation, slows down metabolism — factors that contribute to clot formation and vascular problems. Scripps.org+1

5. Chronic dehydration / insufficient water intake: Dehydration thickens the blood, increases viscosity, impairing circulation and making clot formation more likely. While direct studies are limited, healthy hydration supports overall blood flow and vascular health. CDC+1

6. Emotional stress, anger, mood swings: Sudden spikes in blood pressure and stress hormones during emotional turmoil can trigger vascular events if other risk factors are present. www.stroke.org+1

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✅ Effective Prevention Strategies — What You Should Do

• Stay physically active — e.g. a 30-minute brisk walk daily — to help keep blood pressure, lipids and blood sugar under control. Scripps.org+1

• Eat a balanced, heart-smart diet: plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains; low in saturated fats, trans fats, excessive salt and processed foods. Scripps.org+1

• Ensure you get enough fiber daily — helps regulate blood sugar and lipids, slows atherosclerosis. Scripps.org

• If you have AFib or other heart conditions — follow your doctor’s guidance: take medications, consider anticoagulation therapy if recommended, and manage other risk factors. www.heart.org+1

• Maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, limit alcohol, and get good sleep. CDC+1

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⚠️ Know the Warning Signs — Act Quickly (The “120 Rule”)

If you see any of the following signs, treat them as an emergency and call for help immediately — don’t self-medicate (for example with aspirin), because that might make things worse:

• Sudden weakness or numbness in one side of the body (arm or leg)

• Drooping or asymmetry on one side of the face

• Trouble speaking or slurred speech / confusion

• Sudden severe headache, dizziness, loss of balance

Early detection and fast response can make a huge difference in outcome.

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📅 When to Start Screening

• From around age 20: monitor lipid (cholesterol) levels regularly

• From 30: begin watching blood sugar levels, even without diabetes risk

• From 40: track blood pressure consistently

• From 50 and above: consider periodic vascular health assessments

Stroke and brain infarction are not just diseases of the elderly — up to 15% of stroke cases occur in people under 40. ngoisao.vn+1

So starting early prevention and regular checkups is the smartest move to protect your future self.