Stroke Risk in People with Autoimmune Diseases (e.g., Lupus, MS)
What is a stroke?
It is a serious condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted by a clot or a burst. Leading causes of stroke:
1. Ischemic Stroke: This condition can occurs when the blood flow to the brain gets blocked because the blood vessels are narrowed. It’s actually the most common type of stroke that we see in patients.
2. Hemorrhagic Stroke happens when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted because blood vessels burst. It’s actually less common than the ischemic type.
Autoimmune Disease
When your body’s immune system unintentionally destroys healthy cells, it can lead to autoimmune diseases.
Lupus
Lupus ( known as systemic lupus erythematosus), is an autoimmune condition that causes damage to tissues and organs throughout the body due to the immune system’s dysfunction. Lupus causes inflammation in the joints, blood, skin and organs, including the lungs, kidney and heart.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is also an autoimmune condition. Multiple sclerosis is a condition in which the protective layer (myelin sheath) of the nerve is damaged by the body cells.
How Autoimmune Diseases Cause Stroke
Autoimmune illnesses have been found to enhance the risk of ischemic stroke. Bullous pemphigoid and rheumatoid arthritis, for instance, are linked to an higher risk of stroke in addition to lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Individuals who have recently developed autoimmune illnesses are more susceptible to clot episodes. During the first five years of their illness, the majority of clot events in SLE patients take place. Ischemic stroke risk is highest in the 1st year of SLE with a regulated heart rate, although it is nevertheless substantial over the first five years. Although there is still much to learn about the importance of proper prevention, few major population-based cohort studies have looked at the risk of ischemic stroke in people with SLE for more than ten years.
How Stroke Is Related To Autoimmune Diseases
Numerous factors can raise your risk of stroke if you have lupus. The specialists suggest that it may be medications, lupus-related inflammation, or other illnesses you may have.
Strokes are more common in younger patients with lupus. Research indicates that if you have SLE and are under 50, your risk of having a stroke is doubled.
It’s important to remember that signs of a stroke can easily be mistaken for frequent lupus symptoms like brain fog. About 70% to 80% of patients have it, sometimes referred to as lupus fog, which can lead to cognitive problems, including difficulty remembering things or thinking properly.
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Associated risk that leads to stroke in autoimmune diseases
- Hypertension
- History of kidney-related problems
- Blood clot
- High-level cholesterol
- Vasculitis (Inflammation of the arteries or blood vessels)
How To Prevent Stroke
Approximately 80% of strokes may be avoided. You may drastically reduce your risk of stroke by making little dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
- Lowering Blood Pressure: The most significant risk factor for stroke is high blood pressure. One major contributing factor is high blood pressure, which, if ignored, increases the risk of stroke. The most significant alteration people can make to their vascular health is likely to be keeping their blood pressure measured and, if it is high, taking expert advice to reduce it.
- Treating Diabetes: Over time, high blood sugar levels damage blood arteries, increasing the risk of clots forming within them. Maintain control of your blood sugar levels. As instructed by your physician, monitor your blood sugar levels closely. To manitain or balanced your blood sugar levels within the given range, use a combination of medication, a balanced diet, and regular exercise.
- Reduce Weight: Your risk of having a stroke is increased by obesity and its associated multiple medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Losing even ten pounds can significantly reduce your risk of stroke if you are overweight. some physical activities in your daily routine, such as walking, golfing, or playing tennis, to increase your daily physical activity levels.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking causes clots to develop more quickly in a few distinct ways. It makes your blood thicker and causes more plaque to accumulate in your arteries. One of the most effective lifestyle changes that can help you drastically lower your risk of stroke is quitting smoking, in addition to maintaining a good or healthy diet and engaging in regular exercise.
- Regular Exercise: Moderate exercise 5 days a week is helpful to reduce the risk of stroke. In addition to decreasing blood pressure and helping people lose weight, exercise significantly reduces the risk of stroke on its own. Divide your workout time into 10- to 15-minute sessions many times a day if you don’t have 30 minutes to spare.
- Limited Alcohol Consumption: Drinking should only be done in moderation if you have lupus or any other autoimmune disease. Alcohol and medications may interact, resulting in some adverse outcomes. For instance, alcohol can harm the liver when used with several medicines used to treat lupus.
