Taking steps to prevent or lower conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation and diabetes would lower your chances of having a heart attack or stroke

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Six Important Tips to Reduce Risk of Stroke
Since May is National Stroke to the brain gets blocked, resulting in permanent
disabilities and even death. Stroke is recognized as the fourth leading cause of
death in the United States. Reports suggest that about 1 in 3 adults – an
estimated 67 million people – suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension.
High and uncontrolled blood pressure can increase stroke risk by four to six
times. The condition can potentially damage the heart, brain and kidney
functioning even without a single symptom.
Generally, the risk of stroke is directly related to how high your blood pressure
is. Many conditions such as high cholesterol, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes, and
other factors like gender, race or family history increase risk of stroke. So it’s
obvious that taking measures to prevent or manage these conditions will lower
your chances of suffering a stroke.
Here is some expert advice on lowering the risk of stroke –
 Set a reasonable goal for weight loss – If you're overweight or obese,
controlling body weight is an important way to reduce the risk of stroke.
The excess pounds can disrupt the circulatory system functioning leading

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to other health conditions diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol and
obstructive sleep apnea. Losing as little as 5- 10 percent of your body
weight can help.
 Exercise regularly – Regular exercise can burn off those extra calories.
Aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercises at least five days a
week. Be active otherwise too - walking, fidgeting, pacing while on the
phone and taking the stairs instead of the elevator can burn fat.
 Avoid calorie-rich drinks – Limit the intake of sodas, energy drinks, fruit
juices and sports drinks which are packed with unnecessary calories.
Choose unsweetened drinks instead.
 Avoid solid fat – Use low-fat cooking mediums instead of solid fats like
butter, margarine or shortening. For example, instead of cooking with
butter, use canola, olive, or sunflower oil. You can also limit solid fat by
trimming fat off your meat or choosing leaner proteins.
 Eat healthy – Following a healthy diet pattern lowers your risk of heart
disease and controls blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. Instead
of eating fried or oily items, fill your plate with green vegetables, fruits,
whole grains and lean meats. This will help keep your weight under
control.
 Quit smoking – Smoking dramatically increases your risk of heart attack.
It reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, contributing to hardening of
the arteries and the formation of blood clots. If you find it hard to quit,
enroll in a smoking cessation program at a professional healthcare center.
Regular medical checkups are important to detect problems before become
serious. If you experience any unusual health issues, don’t delay discussing them

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with your doctor. Be proactive about managing your weight through a balanced
diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications.