Stroke Prevention
Anyone can have a stroke, but there are certain factors that can place you at a higher risk. Some of these cannot be changed, while others that are often linked to our lifestyle, are more easily controlled.
Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
Age: older people are more at-risk for strokes
Gender: men are more likely to have strokes than women, but more women die from strokes
Heredity: if your parent, grandparent or sibling had a stroke, you are more likely to have one
Race: African Americans have a greater risk of stroke than Caucasians because of an increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes
A Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): if you have had a stroke or TIA before, you are at greater risk for another
Controllable Risk Factors:
Quitting smoking
Eating a healthy diet
Exercising
Maintaining a healthy weight
Limiting or eliminating alcohol consumption
Controlling diabetes
Controlling high blood pressure
Lowering LDL cholesterol
Taking your medications, as prescribed
Uncontrollable Risk Factors: