A Healthy Lifestyle Prevents Stroke

There are two major factors that significantly reduce the incidence of first time stroke, the first being emergency room interventions and the second healthy lifestyle choices. The Director of the Duke Stroke Center in Durham, N.C., Larry Goldstein, M.D. reports that, "Between 1999 and 2006, there's been over a 30 percent reduction in stroke death rates in the United States and we think the majority of the reduction is coming from better prevention."

So what are things you can do to reduce your risk of stroke? Well, if you’re a smoker, quit. Have a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in fat. Regulate your alcohol intake, so that if you do drink do so in moderation. Exercise regularly with an emphasis on getting your heart rate up. Also you need to keep your body weight with the health BMI range of your height. People who have all of these lifestyle choices in place have an 80% lower risk of developing diabetes. Also, for those who patients whose risk of stroke is higher than their risk of bleeding, daily aspirin therapy is a recommended course of treatment.

Making small steps towards changing your lifestyle can have a major impact on your chance of having a stroke or other developing other health conditions. Start working in changes to your life by walking more instead of taking the car, picking that healthier food option, and making other smart choices.