Diet, Sleep…and Hormones? Unexpected Stroke Risks You Need to Know

For the first time in a decade, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) updated their guidelines, providing an in-depth look at new preventative measures and previously overlooked factors such as socioeconomic status, gender-specific risks, and lifestyle. BlackDoctor.org spoke with Donna Newsome, M.D., a vascular neurologist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital with over 20 years of experience to discuss the shift in understanding stroke risks and the strategies individuals and healthcare providers can adopt to reduce these risks. Why New Guidelines? Since the last update, researchers have uncovered a range of lifestyle and social factors that contribute to stroke risk beyond traditional health markers.  “Since COVID happened, we also realized there are other aspects of life that maybe 10 plus years ago were missed because they didn’t realize the overall impact on our health. Things like socioeconomic situations, women’s health, and sleep deprivation all factor in,” Dr. Newsome shares.  The new guidelines are a formal acknowledgment of these insights, providing both patients and practitioners with a more comprehensive approach to stroke prevention that goes beyond the basics of diet and exercise. “While factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and physical activity have long been known...