Strokes are a critical and life-threatening medical emergency.

They happen when blood provide to a part of the mind is reduce off - often both as a consequence of a clot or a blood vessel bursting.

There are plenty of contributing components that may trigger or increase your danger of a stroke, together with what you eat.

Specifically, foods excessive in salt ought to be prevented since sodium raises blood stress.

This is as a result of sodium makes the physique maintain onto water - placing additional stress on blood vessels.

READ MORE: The potassium content in bananas could help reduce the risk of stroke

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Therefore, Abbas Kanani - pharmacist at Chemist Click Online Pharmacy - suggested upping your potassium consumption to minimize the results of salt.

“Too much sodium (salt) in the diet, such as those found in smoked meats like bacon and ham, can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke,” he informed Express.co.uk.

“Potassium is usually stated as a good food to lower blood pressure.

“Potassium does not directly lower sodium, however consuming adequate amounts of foods with potassium can help with counteracting the effects of sodium.

“Some studies have also found that a diet of too little potassium could increase the risk of stroke.

“The more potassium you eat, the more sodium you process out of the body and therefore have some control of our blood pressure.”

He beneficial consuming bananas - and different meals excessive in potassium - for that reason.

Mr Kanani mentioned: “Bananas are known for their high potassium content, however baked potatoes, butternut squash, milk and chicken breast are also good sources.

“Prunes are not only a good source of potassium, they support heart health in two ways by protecting arteries and reducing damage from oxidative stress, even in diets that are not considered healthy.

“Potassium's anti-inflammatory properties are also important for reducing the risk of developing atherosclerosis, a condition where the arteries become narrowed and hardened.

“It also supports optimal nerve and muscle function, including the smooth muscles lining blood vessels.”

The inclusion of bananas in your weight loss plan to fight hypertension is backed by each the American Heart Association and the British Heart Foundation.

However, each our bodies emphasise that one banana solely equates to round 11 p.c of your day by day potassium wants.

They advise including other potassium-rich foods to your diet in consequence.

The solely approach to make sure when you have hypertension is to get it examined.

High blood stress is taken into account to be from 140/90 millimetres of mercury (mmHg) or 150/90mmHg should you're over the age of 80.