Preventing Strokes

Stroke is the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. Luckily, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk by as much as 80%.

Want to slash your chances of ever having a stroke? By maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, exercising regularly and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you can reduce your risk of a first-time stroke by 80 percent, according to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

Also key in preventing a stroke: keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol down. A healthy diet should include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein. Focus on reducing your sodium, sugar and saturated fat intake. You can do that by cutting back on red meat, full-fat dairy products, baked goods and fried food.

Practicing healthy habits won’t just reduce your risk of stroke, it will lower your chances of developing other chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes as well.