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