7 Tips for Reducing Your Risk of an Aneurysm
An aneurysm is essentially a balloon that forms in a blood vessel. It can appear in your brain, heart, kidneys, or abdomen, and it doesn’t always cause problems. That is, unless it grows. If it does, it can burst and cause internal bleeding. Which is why today, we’re going to give you some tips for reducing your risk of an aneurysm.
Why causes an aneurysm?
There are several things that can put you at higher risk for this health issue. The most common are:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Tobacco use
- Pregnancy
It’s important to remember that there are several things that can lead to an aneurysm. Basically, anything that affects your blood or blood vessels is a possible cause.
Once it happens, it’s difficult to treat. So, reducing your risk of an aneurysm really is the best way to prevent it.
1. Have a diet that’s rich in fruit and vegetables
You should eat a lot of fruits and vegetables every day. They give your body the nutrients it needs for a good heart health.
It’s important to eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They help reduce inflammation in your arterial walls. Including them in your diet directly contributes to reducing your risk of an aneurysm.
The general recommendation is to eat at least two servings of fruit per day.
You can choose whichever you like best, but the best ones are:
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Grapes
Just remember that when choosing fruits, the best thing to do is to choose them based on the season. The fresher they are, the better their benefits will be.
You should also stay away from prepackaged fruits. They have preservatives that can impact your health and can also increase your risk of developing certain health problems.
2. Avoid drinking alcohol and using tobacco
To reduce your risk of an aneurysm, it’s best to stay away from any vicious toxins. That includes alcohol and tobacco. Both of them can put you at a higher risk for a lot of chronic diseases.
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It’s also important to avoid cigarette smoke. Even if it’s second hand, it increases your risk of an aneurysm as much as it does for an active smoker. You might think it’s relatively harmless, but a lcohol can actually weaken your blood vessel walls.
3. Avoid the constant use of medications
Using too much medication can inflame your arteries. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a prescription drug or not. This is also another good reason not to take something unless your doctor tells you to.
For prescription medications, it’s important to follow your doctor’s directions to the tee.
It’s also good to tell your doctor if you have a family history of aneurysms. They’ll take that into consideration when prescribing medications.
4. Exercise: one of the simplest ways of reducing your risk of an aneurysm
Exercising on a daily basis helps you to keep maintain a healthy heart, body, and mind. Try to work out as much as you can.
You should structure an exercise routine around your individual needs and abilities. You can also take advantage of climbing stairs or walking when the opportunity presents itself.
30 minutes of exercise a day is the bare minimum for reducing your risk of an aneurysm or other diseases. Just make sure not to overexert yourself and remember your limitations. Start out small, with shorter exercises.
If you aren’t used to exercising, a good option is to take three short, 10-minute walks per day. As time passes, you’ll be able to walk for longer and reduce the number of sessions as your body gets stronger.
5. See your doctor for periodic checkups
It’s important to regularly check your blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.
If you have high cholesterol and you’ve developed an aneurysm, you need to eat less of certain foods. That includes fried food, canned food, fast food, and fatty meat.
You should also get a checkup as often as your doctor recommends. If you don’t want to try reducing your risk of an aneurysm, you should at least watch out for it, because early detection can save you a lot of trouble.
If you’re healthy, you should see your doctor at least twice per year. This will help them keep a good watch over your health.
Read more:
The 5 Worst Lies You Can Tell Your Doctor
6. Reduce stress
Daily life can lead to a lot of stress. Identifying it and maintaining control over it is very helpful fo an aneurysm.
Relationship problems, work, financial issues, and emotional trauma are just a few examples. These kinds of things can send your stress levels through the roof.
Try to do things that relax you and surround yourself with positive people.
7. Don’t put the emphasis on your family history
Aneurysms can cause major fear. Just remember to put things into perspective. If you have a family history of it, talk to your doctor and keep your risk factors under control.
The fact that it’s possible doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen. Keeping your doctor informed about it is one of the best ways of reducing your risk of an aneurysm. They’ll be able to stay with you every step of the way.
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All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Aneurismas cerebrales. https://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/Aneurismas_Cerebrales.htm
- Aneurisma. https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/001122.htm
