Unfortunately, people who have strokes at night are less likely to get these treatments, because on average, they take twice as long to get to the hospital, according to doctors in North Carolina. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say it's important to seek help immediately if you have symptoms of stroke, such as sudden, intense pain on one side of the head or weakness on one side of the body. The National Stroke Association says it's even more important to prevent strokes by paying attention to risk factors. One of the most important risk factors is high blood pressure, which can be treated with weight loss, exercise, diet and medication. Diabetes and high cholesterol are other risk factors that can be treated with medication and diet.
Risk also increases after a heart attack or with malfunctions in the way the heart pumps blood.
Doctors should monitor all these conditions to help prevent stroke in their patients. Other Topics Health Watch is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.