[Life style and prevention of cerebrovascular accidents]

Cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) claim 1.5 million lives each year in industrialized countries; in developing countries, estimates suggest the same distressing trends. CVD rank as the third leading cause of death after ischaemic heart disease and cancer. Surviving patients are left disabled and paralysed, dependent on their families and on society. Lifestyle, an issue of concern both for the individual and the community, can play an important role in the primary prevention of CVD when combined with dietary adjustments and appropriate drug therapy; it can prevent and slow down the development of atheroma, help to regulate blood pressure and contribute to the prevention of heart diseases likely to cause embolic strokes. The preventive treatment and management of other conditions, such as rheumatic heart disease, coronary artery disease with myocardial infarction and cardiac arrhythmias (embolic strokes), combined with healthy eating habits that tend to reduce the intake of saturated fats (atherosclerosis) and salt (high blood pressure) and the avoidance of smoking and alcohol (ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes) will help to lower the incidence of mortality and morbidity due to CVD.