11 ways to prevent a stroke

Factors you can't change Age Gender Race/ethnicity

Factors you can change High blood pressure Lack of exercise Smoking Diabetes High cholesterol Atrial fibrillation Sickle cell disease Use of oral contraceptives Obesity Presence of other cardiovascular disease Alcohol abuse Drug abuse

Harder to change or emerging evidence Obstructive sleep apnea Migraine Certain infections Gum disease Blood markers like factor V Leiden, lipoprotein(a), others

11 strikes against stroke

You can fight stroke on many fronts. A single thrust is good; a many-pronged attack is even better. Here are 11 things you can do to stay stroke-free:

• Know and control your blood pressure.
• Don't smoke; stop if you do.
• Lose weight if needed.
• Become more active.
• Identify and manage atrial fibrillation.
• Be aggressive about treating a transient ischemic attack (TIA, or mini-stroke).
• Treat circulatory problems like peripheral artery disease, sickle cell disease, or severe anemia.
• Know and control your blood sugar and cholesterol.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Adopt a healthy diet low in sodium and rich in potassium.
• Know the warning signs of stroke (see "Stroke warning signs") and respond immediately.

Read more