Strokes can happen to anyone. You may prevent a stroke by taking the following actions:
Control your blood pressure. High blood pressure (over 140/90) is the biggest risk factor for stroke.
Don't smoke. Chemicals in tobacco raise your blood pressure, reduce the amount of oxygen your blood carries to your brain, make blood thicker and stickier, and promote clotting.
Control your cholesterol. High LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels damage your arteries and promote the formation of plaque.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk for high blood pressure.
Be physically active. Getting regular aerobic exercise helps overall cardiovascular health.
Eat a balanced diet, including plenty of fruits and vegetables. Some fad diets may be unhealthy if they promote too much fat or salt.
Control diabetes. People with the disease are more likely to have strokes.
Take little strokes seriously. A small clot will sometimes clog an artery briefly, causing temporary weakness, dizziness, or other symptoms. These transient ischemic attacks often precede a major stroke.
Follow your health care provider's advice for treatment of heart disease, including coronary artery blockage and abnormal rhythms like atrial fibrillation.
Find out if you need to have your carotid arteries--the arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain--checked for narrowing.
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