Old Age
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) can happen to anyone and at any age. However, old age do increase a person’s risk of having a stroke. It is a commonly accepted fact that stroke remains to be one of the leading causes of death among elderly adults in the United States. Research has shown that the risk of developing a stroke doubles every ten years after the age of 55. There is a direct link between old age and cerebrovascular accident because the older a person gets, the narrower and stiffer, the blood vessels become, which may lead to a stroke.
It is important for the elder to recognize stroke symptoms, get educated about the risk factors, and maintain a healthy diet for better stroke prevention. A periodic physical examination, such as a head computerized tomography (CT) scan or head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), could help for early diagnosis. Checking the blood pressure and blood glucose regularly, controlling the blood cholesterol levels, and participating in comprehensive rehabilitation may significantly influence the outcomes of stroke in aging.