Can alcohol be beneficial?

Alcohol may be beneficial, but only if drunk in small to moderate amounts. At higher levels, it can harm your health. Drinking regular, small amounts of all types of alcohol may reduce your risk of heart disease. It is generally thought that a unit or two, some days of the week, probably protects adults of all ages against heart disease.

Research shows that small amounts of alcohol may help to thin the blood and reduce the risk of clots forming in blood vessels. It may also affect the way that cholesterol is carried in the bloodstream, reducing the risk of fatty deposits building up in blood vessel walls. This can reduce the risk of ischaemic strokes, where clots or fatty build-up cause a blockage in a blood vessel. 

Although drinking small amounts of alcohol a day has been found to offer some protection against heart attack and stroke, there are still more effective ways to protect your health. These include eating a healthy diet, staying active, getting enough sleep, and having regular health checks as recommended by your doctor.

Staying in Control When Drinking

If you drink, it is vital to work out how many units you are having so that you can keep within sensible limits. For a couple of weeks, at the end of each day, make a note of what you drank and count up the units.You could also keep track using a computer or a smart phone app. If you would like help, you could also speak to your GP or practice nurse, or contact some of the organizations listed at the end of this fact sheet.

• Set yourself a daily alcohol limit and stick to it.  
• Work out when you do most of your drinking and see if there are obvious times when you can cut back (such as the ‘quick drink’ after work). 
• Tell your family and friends you’re cutting down – they may be more supportive than you’d expect.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Have a good meal before you go out, or limit your drinking to mealtimes only. Drinking with food slows the rate of absorption of the alcohol into your bloodstream, and should help you to get a better night’s sleep.
• Top up the water before the wine glasses.  
• If you’re out drinking in a group, avoid buying rounds, as this can encourage you to drink more alcohol more quickly. Go to a place that serves food, as eating will slow down the effects of alcohol. 
• Experiment with flavours – use slices of fruit to add extra zing or try non-alcoholic versions of your usual drinks. There are plenty of fruit drinks and alcohol-free wines and beers on the market.
• Suggest an alcohol-free outing with your friends instead of meeting for a drink – there are plenty of alternatives, from visiting a place of interest to going to the cinema, and they will not necessarily cost any more than going to the pub.
• If you’re drinking at home, try not to pour larger drinks than you would get if you were drinking in a pub or restaurant.  
• Serve spritzers and other mixed drinks at home that can be made in lower alcohol versions, like cocktails or fruit punch.
• Keep a range of non-alcoholic drinks that you like at home, or try making smoothies and non-alcoholic cocktails.
• Have regular alcohol-free days to avoid becoming dependent on drink.  
• If you need to relax, try some less harmful ways to manage your stress like soaking in a warm bath or shower, having a massage or talking to a trusted friend.
• Depression is often associated with alcohol use, and should improve as you start to drink less. Depression is also common after a stroke.

Can I drink alcohol after a stroke?

The effects of alcohol may put you at further risk after a stroke, and you will need to review your drinking and consider cutting down, especially if you were a heavy drinker beforehand. There are a number of factors you need to consider – talk to your GP for more advice:

• Following a stroke you may be more vulnerable to alcohol and its negative effects such as sleep disturbance, poor balance and impaired speech. Alcohol may worsen mood swings and depression, which are common after a stroke. It may affect your memory and thinking, making you forgetful and less able to make sound judgements.
• If you are out after dark, you should remember that alcohol can reduce night vision by 25 per cent and slow down reaction times by 10-30 per cent.  
• Alcohol acts on the kidneys, creating excessive amounts of urine, which may make you dehydrated. 
• If you are less active than before your stroke, you will need to reduce your calorie intake (especially these ‘empty’ calories) to avoid becoming overweight. If you are less active and not absorbing calcium properly, your bones may become weakened.
• Drinking alcohol may be harmful when taking medicines that are sometimes needed after a stroke. Ask your GP or pharmacist about whether you may drink at all and if so, what the sensible limits are for you. You may be advised to stop drinking for the first month or two after starting a new medicine so that your body can get used to its effects.
• If you do drink you should ask at your anticoagulant clinic about your alcohol intake and how much you can safely drink on a regular basis.

Drinking alcohol after a stroke due to bleeding in the brain (a haemorrhagic stroke) could put you at particular risk. You will need to avoid alcohol for at least the first three weeks, and be advised by your doctor after that.

How does drinking alcohol increase the risk of stroke?

How does drinking alcohol increase the risk of stroke? - Alcohol contributes to diseases that affect the circulation of the blood, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and these in turn raise our risk of stroke. Excessive drinking (where the recommended limits are regularly exceeded) and ‘binge’ drinking, can both raise blood pressure, which is the main risk factor for stroke. 

High blood pressure develops when the pressure of the blood passing through the blood vessels is consistently high – above 140/90 mmHg. Ideally, blood pressure should be no higher than 120/80 mmHg. Type 2 diabetes can be triggered by heavy drinking as a result of changes in how the body responds to insulin. Heavy drinking also causes pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which can reduce insulin production, and one in three people with this condition will develop diabetes. (For further information please see our factsheet F15, Diabetes and stroke. Drinking alcohol in excess can also trigger atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat which also raises the risk of stroke. (For further information please see our factsheet F26, Atrial fibrillation and stroke). 

Even in moderate amounts, alcohol may lead to a rise in the blood level of a substance called homocysteine. This can increase the risk of your blood clotting and is also linked to atherosclerosis (hardening and furring of the internal walls of the arteries). This can result in a blockage forming, which could lead to a stroke.

Stroke Home Treatment

After a stroke, home treatment will be an important part of your rehabilitation. You may need to use assistive devices to help you:

• Walk. Canes and walkers can be used to help prevent falls. 

• Get dressed. Devices called reachers can help you put on socks or stockings if you have weakness in one arm or hand. 

• Eat. Large-handled silverware can be easier to grab and use if you have a weak hand. If you have trouble swallowing, you may need to change your diet or your doctor may provide you with a feeding tube to use at home.

Tips for dealing with the effects of a stroke :

• Managing eating problems.

• Managing vision problems.

• Managing getting dressed.

• Managing bowel and bladder problems.

Tips for a successful recovery

• Participate in a stroke rehabilitation program as soon as possible.

• Recognize and deal with depression.

• Be as involved as possible in your care.

Although stroke rehab is increasingly successful at prolonging life, a stroke can be a disabling or fatal condition.People who have had a stroke may consider discussing health care and other legal issues that may arise near the end of life.Many people find it helpful and comforting to state their health care choices in writing with a living will or other advance directive while they are still able to make and communicate these decisions.

Stroke Symptoms

STROKE SYMPTOMS
During a BBQ, a friend fall - she assured everyone that comes if he is okay and he just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes (they offered to call paramedics).They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. Although it looks a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying afternoon. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6 pm the next day, Ingrid passed away.)
She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. If only they knewhow to recognize the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.It only takes a minute to read this.
A neurologist says that if he can help a stroke victim within 3 hours after the attack, he can reverse the effects of a stroke in total! He said the trick is to recognize and diagnose stroke within 3 hours since the assault, which is actually a difficult thing.
IDENTIFYING STROKE
Read and Learn!
Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of vigilance can be disastrous. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people are nearby at the time of the incident, failed to recognize the symptoms of stroke.
Now doctors say a bystander canrecognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. Ask the individual to SMILE.
2. Ask the person to LIFT BOTH HANDS.
3. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently), for example: "Today is sunny." Blablabla ....

If the person is not able to do what we asked for one of the above or immediately brought to the nearest hospital to get further first aid.
Be a friend andshare this article with your friends as much as possible to, you could have saved their lives.

Definite Thing that is Cause Stroke

One study found that high blood pressure, smoking, abdominal fat, poor diet, lack of physical activity, high levels of bad cholesterol, diabetes, drinking too much alcohol, stress, and heart problems account for 90 percent of the causes of stroke.

Research conducted by a team at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada is one of the most comprehensive study of the causes of stroke.

They say, the highest factor was high blood pressure, the risk doubled.

Approximately 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke each year and about 67,000 are at risk of death. It is also a major cause of disability.

The study, published in The Lancet and presented at the World Congress of Cardiology in Beijing, examined 3,000 people and 3,000 stroke patients who did not suffer a stroke.

They were questioned about their lifestyles, such as how much they drink, exercise and diet often they do they are measured according to their health and some tests and measurements performed by professionals.

They are categorized drinkers if meraka former drinkers, moderate drinkers of one to 30 drinks a month. More than 30 drinks a month and binge drinking were conducted more than five drinks a day in the previous month.

They are classified into active sportsman if they routinely walks, cycling, gardening, jogging, playing football or vigorous swimming for four hours a week or more.

These findings suggest that smokers double the risk of stroke, poor diet have an increased risk of 35 percent, more than 30 times a month drinking alcoholic beverages have an increased risk of 50 percent, 30 percent the risk of stress and depression by 35 percent.

More activity can reduce the risk of about 30 percent.

Martin O'Donnell, lead author said that the findings suggest that ten simple risk factors associated with 90% of the risk of ischemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhagic worldwide.

"This research is targeted to reduce blood pressure and smoking, and promote physical activity and healthy foods, which can substantially reduce the risk of stroke," said O'Donnell.

As reported by the Telegraph, Andrea Lane, a spokesman for the Stroke Association said that over the years there are few research studies the causes of stroke, which has identified a number of major risk factors.

"This is research done widely and deeply, to support some previous findings and reflect prevention advice presented by the Stroke Association." (Rebecca Smith / telegraph / sua)