6 lifestyle tips to prevent stroke

We all know that prevention is better than cure and so here are some lifestyle tips that may help to prevent stroke.

Around one-third deaths caused due to heart diseases in India are mainly because of stroke. Lack of proper awareness about this clinical condition makes people unaware about the serious health complications associated with stroke. Inculcate some simple lifestyle changes in your daily routine to prevent stroke. Here are few tips that will lower your stroke risk:

Lower blood pressure

High blood pressure or hypertension is a big risk factor in both men and women, that if uncontrolled doubles your chance of getting stroke. Lowering your blood pressure levels and maintaining them makes a big difference to those suffering from hypertension. Read about dietary ways to control your blood pressure

Exercise regularly

Regular exercising is found to make your circulatory system and heart more efficient. It also lowers the blood cholesterol and blood pressure levels in the body thereby preventing stroke. Moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or brisk walking for at least 150 minutes every week is recommended to lower your risk of stroke.

Quit smoking/drink in moderation

Smoking thickens your blood and accelerates the amount of plague build-up in the arteries thereby increasing your chances of clot formation. Up to a certain limit, drinking alcohol may make you less likely to have a stroke (though research on this is very contentious). But, if it crosses that limit, your risk of stroke goes up significantly. Hence quit smoking and drink in moderation to reduce your stroke risk. Read about 5 Ds to start you on the path to quit smoking

Revamp your diet

A healthy diet is the best and most effective way to reduce your risk of heart disease and its allied health complications along with improving your immunity. Studies have shown that eating foods rich in potassium may cut the risk of stroke by around 20%.

Lose weight

Obesity and other health complications associated with it like hypertension and diabetes is found to raise your stroke risk. On the bright side, losing as little as 10 pounds of weight significantly reduces your odds of having a stroke. Read about How to lose weight at home exercises, yoga and diet tips

References:

8 things you can do to prevent a stroke Harvard Health Publications
Stroke - Prevention NHS
Stroke Prevention Lifestyle Tips WebMD

You may also like to read:

• Would you recognise the symptoms of stroke if you saw someone having one?
• Stroke causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
• Eight ways to keep stroke at bay
• Keep strokes away by switching to olive oil
• Recognise symptoms of stroke, prove help in the Golden Hour

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