9 Ways to Prevent a Stroke!

ORLANDO, Fla. (KFSN) -- Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., but did you know that 80 percent of all strokes are preventable? Here is what you need to do to protect yourself.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. But the good news is you can lower your risk! The first step: don't light up.

"I think the important thing to do is stop smoking," said Raj Makkar, MD, the Director of the Interventional Cardiology and Cath Lab at Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, California.

Smoking thickens blood and increases the amount of plaque buildup in your arteries. But, within two to five years of quitting, your stroke risk can fall to that of a nonsmoker. Next, keep blood pressure less than 120 over 80. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can quadruple your risk of stroke. To keep it low, limit salt to no more than half a teaspoon a day, eat a healthy diet, and exercise at least five days a week.

If you're overweight, losing as few as ten pounds can impact your stroke risk. Aim to keep your body mass index at 25 or less. Also, you can drink alcohol but only in moderation. Studies show if you have about one glass a day, your stroke risk is lower. Lastly, treat any other health problems you have.

"If you have other risk factors such as diabetes, you should go ahead and take care of those other risk factors," Dr. Makkar told Ivanhoe.

Take all your prescribed meds and let your doctor know if your symptoms worsen. These are simple steps that could prevent a stroke from happening to you!

One myth about strokes is that they only occur in older people. In fact, about one-third of stroke patients are between ages 20 and 64. Even babies can have strokes and sometimes it is before they're born.

For More Information, Contact:

Catherine Pope

Catherine@cppublicrelations.com