Folic acid a day...
A Folic Acid a day…
Keeps the Stroke Away…
Folic acid is a vitamin found naturally in green vegetables, fruits, poultry, meats, and grains. Asparagus, Spinach and Brussels are particularly rich in Folic Acid. Folic acid is a key constituent of prenatal vitamins. It is well known that folic acid is protective against neural tube defects in the growing fetus when given to pregnant women. Folic acid supplementation lowers elevated homocysteine levels, considered an important risk factor for vascular disease. It has also been found to be helpful in curbing depression and mild cognitive impairment or memory problems. More excitingly a recent study has shown Folic Acid may be protective against strokes.
Strokes or brain attacks commonly lead to brain damage, paralysis and loss of neurologic functions contributing to significant morbidity and mortality and are the second leading cause of death and disability in the world. Till date Folic Acid had not been considered for stroke prevention. In a large Chinese study with over 20,000 participants, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases were found to be reduced with daily folic acid intake of at least 800 micrograms. Those on Folic acid had an approximately 21% lower risk of stroke than those not on folic acid. The China Stroke PrimaryPrevention Trial or CSPPT was recently published in the Journal of American Medical Association JAMA and provides evidence that daily Folic Acid may be a helpful addition to the regular medications used in the elderly and those at risk for stroke such as those with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, or those who are obese or have history of smoking.
Other tips to reduce stroke would include taking a baby aspirin on a daily basis, considering healthy physical activity, weight loss, and curbing risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, smoking and obesity. Atrial fibrillation is strongly associated with strokes and is serious condition that necessitates life long anticoagulation. For more information on stroke please read more…