If you are one of those people who often times wonder what is it that you can do to prevent a stroke, then you must read on to find out. Mostly, elders are susceptible to getting strokes; sometimes hereditary issues can also cause stroke in a person. Time cannot be turned back and it is impossible for you to change the course of history, but then there are many stroke risk factors that you can actually control, provided you are aware of them. Let’s take a look at the different ways that you can protect yourself from getting a stroke:

• Lose weight : Obesity plays a huge factor in the odds of you getting a stroke. Losing as little as 10 pounds if you are overweight can actually have a really big impact on lowering your stroke risk. Talk to your doctor and establish some goals, as the ideal body mass index is 25 or less, may not be realistic for you to begin with. Exercising every day will definitely help you get into shape. You can choose from activities like walking, swimming, golfing, playing tennis or even running. But you need to make the activity a part and parcel of your everyday routine. Try to keep your calorie intake between 1,500 to 2,000 calories per day, this will also help you to lose weight.
• Lower blood pressure : High blood pressure serves as a huge risk and it can actually double your chances of getting a stroke. If you have high blood pressure, you will need to monitor it regularly and treat it if it elevates. You need to see to it that your blood pressure is around 135/85, for which you will need to make a conscious effort to eat food that has less salt. High-cholesterol foods like cheeseburgers, pizzas, and ice-cream are a definite no to your diet. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit smoking.
• Exercise more : Although exercise contributes to helping you lose weight and keeping your blood pressure under control, it can stand by itself as an independent stroke reducer. Get yourself enrolled in a fitness club with your friends. Make it a habit to walk every day, take the stairs instead of the elevator and you can also split your exercise times into 10 to 15-minute sessions a few times a day.
• Treat atrial fibrillation : Atrial fibrillation causes clots to form in the heart due to irregular heartbeats. Those clots can travel up to the brain and this can cause a stroke. Hence it is very important to get atrial fibrillation treated, in order to reduce your stroke risk.
• Diabetes : High blood sugar can damage your blood vessels, making clots form inside of them. You need to monitor your blood sugar levels by using tools such as exercise, diet, and medications that will help keep your blood sugar within the recommended range.