Think a stroke cannot happen to you? Think again.
In the United States, someone experiences a stroke about every 40 seconds (1).
Almost every month, I hear about someone having a stroke. Sometimes it is someone I know. Sometimes it is someone I used to coach. Other times, it is someone connected to a friend or client.
Some of these people are no longer here.
Some recover and return to their normal life.
Others survive, but their life is never the same.
For those who live through a stroke, one thought stays in the back of their mind.
They never want it to happen again.
A Story I Will Never Forget
A few years ago, someone I knew experienced a stroke that completely changed their life.
It happened suddenly.
One day they were working, driving, and living a normal life. The next day they were in the hospital struggling to speak and move their arm.
Their family was shocked.
They kept asking the same question:
βHow did this happen?β
The truth is that strokes rarely appear out of nowhere.
In many cases, the conditions that lead to a stroke develop slowly over many years.
Conditions like inflammation, insulin resistance, and blood vessel damage may be quietly building long before a stroke occurs.
The encouraging news is that many of these risks can be reduced.
In this article, you will learn:
π What causes strokes
π What increases stroke risk
π What you can do to reduce your chances of having one
π What steps may help reduce the risk of it happening again
Understanding these factors could help protect your brain, your health, and your future.
What Is a Stroke?
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted.
This can happen when a blood vessel becomes blocked or ruptures.
Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes (2).
There are two main types of strokes.
Ischemic Stroke
This is the most common type. About 87 percent of strokes are ischemic strokes. It occurs when a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain (3).
Hemorrhagic Stroke
This type occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures, causing bleeding.
Both types are medical emergencies.
But strokes usually begin long before the event itself. The conditions that cause them often to develop slowly inside the body.
Why Do Strokes Happen?
Most strokes are linked to problems with blood vessels.
Over time, blood vessels can become inflamed, stiff, and narrowed. This increases the risk of clot formation.
Several health conditions increase stroke risk:
π High blood pressure
π Diabetes
π Smoking
π Obesity
π High triglycerides
π Lack of physical activity
High blood pressure is considered the leading risk factor for stroke worldwide (4).
But beneath many of these conditions are deeper metabolic problems that often go unnoticed.
Two of the most important are:
Chronic low-grade inflammation
and
Insulin resistance
Inflammation damages blood vessels and promotes plaque buildup (5).
Insulin resistance can lead to high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, and abnormal cholesterol metabolism. These changes increase stroke risk (6).
A simple way to explain it is this:
Inflammation lights the fire, and insulin resistance pours gasoline on it.
Common Risk Factors for Stroke
Many strokes are linked to health conditions that develop slowly over time.
Understanding these risk factors can help people take action earlier.
Common stroke risk factors include:
π High blood pressure
π Smoking
π Diabetes
π Obesity
π Physical inactivity
π High triglycerides
π Poor nutrition
π Chronic inflammation
π Insulin resistance
Many of these risk factors are connected to metabolic health and inflammation.
Improving nutrition, increasing physical activity, improving fatty acid balance, and reducing inflammation can play an important role in protecting brain and cardiovascular health.
How Stroke Risk Builds Over Time
A stroke usually does not happen overnight.
In many cases, the process begins years earlier.
Modern diets often contain large amounts of omega-6 fats and very little omega-3 fats.
This imbalance can increase inflammatory signaling in the body (7).
Over time, inflammation can irritate and damage blood vessels.
As inflammation continues, many people develop insulin resistance, meaning the body must produce more insulin to control blood sugar.
When insulin levels remain elevated for long periods, several changes can occur:
π Blood vessels become more inflamed
π Blood pressure increases
π Cholesterol particles become more harmful
π Blood becomes more likely to clot
Over time this chain of events can lead to plaque buildup and clot formation.
If a clot blocks blood flow to the brain, a stroke can occur.
Omega-6 imbalance β Inflammation β Insulin resistance β Blood vessel damage β Blood clot β Stroke
The encouraging news is that each step in this pathway can be improved.
Improve Your Omega-6 to Omega-3 Balance
One important factor influencing inflammation is the balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fats.
Thousands of years ago, humans consumed these fats in a more balanced way.
Today, modern diets often contain far more omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats, which can increase inflammatory signaling (7).
Research shows that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are linked with a lower risk of ischemic stroke (8).
Research also shows that an Omega-3 Index around 8 percent or higher is associated with better cardiovascular protection (9).
Improving omega-3 status may help support healthier blood vessels and circulation.
How Too Much Omega-6 Can Increase Inflammation and Clot Risk
Omega-6 fats are essential for health, but problems can occur when levels become too high compared with omega-3 fats.
One important omega-6 fat in the body is arachidonic acid (AA).
AA helps produce signaling molecules that influence inflammation and blood clotting (10).
When AA levels are high and omega-3 levels are low, the body can produce more inflammatory signals.
These signals can irritate blood vessels and increase clot formation.
Omega-3 fats help balance this process by producing less inflammatory signaling molecules.
Get the BalanceTest
One of the most helpful steps you can take is to measure your omega-6-to-omega-3 balance.
Most people have no idea what their fatty acid levels look like.
The BalanceTest is a simple dried blood spot test that measures fatty acids in your red blood cells.
It shows your:
π Omega-6 to omega-3 ratio
π Omega-3 Index
π Other markers connected to inflammation and cellular health
Red blood cells live about 120 days, which is roughly four months. This means the test reflects your long-term fatty acid balance.
The BalanceTest helps you establish a baseline, so you know where you are starting.
Many people are surprised by their results.
Improve Your Numbers with BalanceOil+
Once you know your starting numbers, the next step is improving them.
BalanceOil+ provides omega-3 fatty acids together with polyphenols.
Polyphenols help protect the oils from oxidation and support how the body uses these fatty acids.
As you take BalanceOil+, your body gradually replaces older red blood cells with new ones that reflect your improved fatty acid intake.
This process takes about four months, which is the normal life span of a red blood cell.
When you follow the approach I recommend, you will receive a second BalanceTest at no additional cost (retail value $179).
This allows you to compare your results:
Before BalanceOil+ β After Four Months
This comparison shows how your omega-6-to-omega-3 balance has improved.
Not All Omega-3 Supplements Are the Same
Many people assume that taking any omega-3 supplement will improve their fatty acid balance.
Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
Some supplements contain low amounts of EPA and DHA. Others may oxidize easily or may not be absorbed efficiently.
Another important factor is polyphenols.
Polyphenols help protect omega-3 oils and support their incorporation into cell membranes.
This is one reason BalanceOil+ is different from many typical omega-3 supplements.
It combines omega-3 fatty acids with polyphenols derived from olives.
Know the Warning Signs of a Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency.
A simple way to remember the warning signs is FAST.
F β Face drooping
A β Arm weakness
S β Speech difficulty
T β Time to call emergency services
Fast treatment can reduce brain damage and improve recovery (13).
The Bottom Line
A stroke can happen in seconds, but the conditions that lead to it often develop over many years.
Inflammation, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and an imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fats can quietly damage blood vessels over time.
The encouraging news is that many of these risk factors can be measured and improved.
If you have questions about what you read in this article, contact the person who shared it with you, or email me directly at:Β robert@dietfreelife.com
If you are ready to take action, you can get started with the BalanceTest and BalanceOil+ here:Β https://www.zinzino.com/shop/2015067525/US/en-us/products/premier-kits/910465
Small steps today can help protect your brain, your blood vessels, and your health for years to come.
References
-
- Benjamin, E. J., et al. (2019). Heart disease and stroke statistics update. Circulation.
- Powers, W. J., et al. (2019). Early management of ischemic stroke. Stroke.
- Virani, S. S., et al. (2021). Heart disease and stroke statistics update. Circulation.
- O’Donnell, M. J., et al. (2016). Global risk factors for stroke. The Lancet.
- Libby, P. (2021). Inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Nature Reviews Cardiology.
- Kernan, W. N., et al. (2014). Stroke prevention guidelines. Stroke.
- Simopoulos, A. P. (2016). Omega-6/omega-3 imbalance and disease risk. Nutrients.
- Del Gobbo, L. C., et al. (2016). Omega-3 biomarkers and stroke risk. Circulation.
- Harris, W. S., & von Schacky, C. (2004). Omega-3 Index as a cardiovascular risk marker. Preventive Medicine.
- Calder, P. C. (2015). Marine omega-3 fatty acids and inflammation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.
- Reaven, G. M. (2011). Insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. Medical Clinics of North America.
- World Health Organization. (2020). Physical activity guidelines.
- Powers, W. J., et al. (2019). Guidelines for management of acute ischemic stroke. Stroke.
__________
Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, Omega Balancing Coachβ’, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.
ποΈ Schedule a FREE consultation with Robert Ferguson about becoming a client: SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION
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