Prevent Blood Clots to Prevent Stroke

Dr. Sinatra has always told me that, should he suffer a stroke and be unable to communicate, he wants me to get him into a hyperbaric oxygen chamber—also known as HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen treatment).

Dr. Sinatra’s colleague Dr. Mark Breiner and his son Dr. Adam Breiner have one at their holistic medicine center in Connecticut, and some hospitals have them onsite to treat a myriad of health issues. HBOT delivers oxygen under pressure, and also stimulates stem cells to promote healing.
 
And speaking of what we would do brings up the importance of having a game plan for what YOU and your family would do if one of you should start exhibiting symptoms of stroke. We’ve known a few folks, some of them medically trained, who disregarded symptoms of impending stroke and paid the price for it. We don’t want that to happen to you.

The most appropriated game plan is to call 911 and let emergency medical professionals get you safely to the closest  hospital—and it’s actually what I intend to do first if Dr. Sinatra is the patient…and vice versa.

As with any medical concern, prevention is the key. First and foremost, know your heart risk factors. These include:

• Age 55 or older
• Heredity/family history
• Men
• History of heart attack and/or stroke
• Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure levels, vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and sickle cell anemia
• Drug/alcohol abuse
• Poor diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Living in the southeast US (“stroke belt”)
• Low socioeconomic status

Secondly, take steps to prevent heart attack and stroke. This includes following good healthy heart nutrition and getting lots of exercise. Also, if you are diabetic, you need to keep an eye on your blood sugars, and take any medication that has been prescribed for you.

If you have atrial fibrillation, have regular follow-up with your MD. Atrial fibrillation is one condition where Dr. Sinatra firmly believes in taking anticoagulants like warfarin (Coumadin) to prevent blood clots and stroke, so make sure you take it if it’s been prescribed for you and have your blood levels monitored as recommended.

For more information on preventing blood clots, visit www.drsinatra.com.