Stroke

Prevention

Knowing the risk factors and living healthfully are the best steps to take to prevent stroke.

Some risk factors for stroke, such as age and gender, cannot be changed. Others, such as high blood pressure and smoking, can be altered. Patients and families should seek guidance from their health care providers about lifestyle changes to help prevent stroke.

Stroke Prevention Strategies

Control High Blood Pressure
Eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight, and exercise regularly to reduce blood pressure. Health care providers may prescribe drugs for patients who need additional help to lower their blood pressure.

Don't Smoke
Not smoking reduces the risk of stroke. It is never too late to quit smoking. The recommendation is the sooner, the better. For former smokers who've not smoked in 10 years, the risk of stroke is the same as that of a nonsmoker.

Manage Heart Disease
Physicians can treat heart disease and may prescribe medication to help prevent the formation of blood clots. People age 50 or older should consult their physicians about taking aspirin daily.

Control Diabetes
Both diabetes and high blood pressure can be managed with weight control (diet and exercise) and medication. Strict control of blood sugar levels may reduce damage to the brain if a stroke occurs.

Manage Cholesterol
Even though high cholesterol may be a more important risk factor for heart attack, it also is a stroke risk factor and should be treated.

Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight contributes to other risk factors for stroke such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Losing as little as 10 pounds may lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels.

Seek Help for Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
Although TIAs are transient (temporary), they are a sign of high risk of future stroke and should never be ignored. Medications or surgical or balloon angioplasty procedures may lessen the risk of stroke.

Common TIA symptoms include loss of vision in one eye, sudden weakness on one side of the body and sudden loss of speech or language function. Patients should contact their physician immediately if they are uncertain about whether symptoms are TIAs. Further testing or a change in medication may be recommended.

Exercise Regularly
Aerobic exercise reduces the risk of stroke by lowering blood pressure, increasing the level of HDL cholesterol and improving the overall health of blood vessels and the heart. Exercise also helps with weight reduction and diabetes control, and it can reduce stress.

Manage Stress
Stress can cause a temporary spike in blood pressure — a risk factor for brain hemorrhage — or long-lasting hypertension. It can also increase the blood's tendency to clot, which may elevate the risk of ischemic stroke. Exercise and relaxation techniques may help reduce stress.