Regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C can help protect against strokes, according to a new study.
For the study, a team of French researchers looked at 130 people. Of the total, half were survivors of an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, an occurrence when a weakened blood vessel in the brain ruptures and causes internal bleeding. Vitamin C levels of the participants were checked and recorded. Results showed a direct link between the common type of stroke and vitamin C deficiency.
People with a history of the stroke had a considerable decline in the levels of the vitamin, compared to healthy people without having stroke.
"Our results show that vitamin C deficiency should be considered a risk factor for this severe type of stroke, as were high blood pressure, drinking alcohol and being overweight in our study," study author Stéphane Vannier, MD, with Pontchaillou University Hospital in Rennes, France, said in a news release. "More research is needed to explore specifically how vitamin C may help to reduce stroke risk. For example, the vitamin may regulate blood pressure."
Findings of the study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, scheduled to be held in April and May.
Some Foods Rich in Vitamin C
- Papaya
- Orange
- Pineapple
- Berries
- Cabbage
- Kiwifruit
- Bell pepper
- Melons
- Potatoes
- Peas
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Cauliflower
- Turnip
- Broccoli
Some Common Facts about Intracerebral hemorrhage
According to experts at the Rush University Medical Center in the US, Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the second common type of stroke that affects people aged above 55 years. In most cases, the stroke proves to be fatal.
Risk Factors
- Addiction to alcohol
- Hypertension
- Street drugs
- clotting disorders
Symptoms provided by Mayo Clinic in US:
- Severe headache
- Dizziness, drowsiness
- Vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Confusion
- Weakening of limbs on one side of the body
- Differences in pupil size
- Lethargy
- Seizures leading to the loss of consciousness
