Wellbeing
Heed the warning sent by a TIA
A TIA can be the first warning that there’s a risk of major stroke. TRUDY KITHER explains how it can happen and offers ways to heed the warning – naturally.
A transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a mini or temporary stroke and may indicate a larger one is coming as there is decreased blood flow of the brain, spinal cord, or even the eye.
It is a risk factor for a stroke, but usually resolves within 24 hours.
Symptoms include paralysis or weakness, numbness, loss of vision, slurred speech and confusion – and sometimes no sign at all.
There are three main mechanisms of stroke:
- Embolism – plaquing of tissues (consisting of calcium, cholesterol, or fibrous tissue) which break off and cause blockage in another part of the body.
- Thrombus – a blood clot that mostly occurs in the atrium of the heart. This starts from atrial fibrillation (excessive beating of the heart), stagnation of blood, then pooling, and a blood clot.
- Aneurysm – a ballooning effect in an artery. When it blows up and pops you would die of internal bleeding.
An embolus begins from high levels of insulin, vitamin C deficiency and junk foods. There is a whole chain of events and high cholesterol comes later.
The first event is that there are low levels of Vitamin C because there is an inflammatory condition in the body or high insulin levels. A stroke is one of the risk factors for diabetics.
High insulin depletes Vitamin C and starts the lesion in the cells and the arteries. Next comes cholesterol and calcium, then fibrous tissue, and it starts building up the clot.
Thrombosis comes from atrial fibrillation (erratic heartbeat) from the chamber of the heart.
Atrial fibrillation can be caused by a potassium or magnesium deficiency from not consuming enough vegetables.
Other sources are brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, salmon, and avocados.
Other causes can be consuming too much sugar, being prediabetic or having insulin resistance.
Aneurysm occurs when the lining of the vascular system starts to become deficient in oxygen. You may have high blood pressure damaging the arteries, atrophy on the artery or a balloon out.
Insulin resistance also causes high blood pressure along with potassium deficiency.
Silent strokes have no symptoms but still cause damage to certain parts of the brain.
Vitamin C also controls collagen in the cells and arteries so they will get weaker when there is a deficiency.
To prevent a TIA or stroke, increase Vitamin C, prevent insulin resistance and have seven cups of green, leafy vegetables (or one large green, leafy vegetable salad) a day to meet potassium and magnesium requirements.
Reduce blood pressure naturally by intermittent fasting and keto. Quit smoking and avoid obesity.
If you have already had a stroke or a TIA, there are some natural solutions:
- Healthy fats called EPAs/DHAs increase oxygen to the brain. They are anti-inflammatory and improve the structure and function of the brain while repairing the damage. Foods such as salmon, sardines, and cod liver oil are very high in EPA/DHA. If purchasing in supplement form, ensure they are of the highest purity and lowest mercury levels. Always do your research before buying EPA/DHA oils.
- Garlic is an excellent blood thinner without the side effects of pharmarceutical drugs. Garlic contains a vital nutrient that drug companies are attempting to isolate for anti-clotting drugs, so why not just eat garlic.
- Exercise is vital to increase circulation in the heart and the brain.
- Exogenous ketones. When brain cells are damaged, they can’t get fuel needed to work. Ketones can bypass the damaged tissue in the brain and heart and feed it at the same time. This supplement is extremely beneficial if you have Alzheimer’s, dementia, memory problems, or a damaged heart.
- Vitamin E containing tocopherols and tocotrienols in the one capsule essential to help thin the blood and the clots.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacinimide) is another natural remedy to regrow synapses and regenerate brain cells.
- Intermittent fasting with keto can reduce insulin resistance while at the same time increasing and regenerating brain cells.
Trudy Kither is a naturopath and owner of Natures Temple. Visit naturestemple.net
