Stroke Health Center

You can help prevent a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke by controlling your risk factors for stroke.

Know your stroke risk

These are some of the common risk factors for stroke:

• You smoke.
• You have high blood pressure.
• Your cholesterol level is higher than average.
• You have diabetes.
• You are overweight.
• You don't exercise on a regular basis.
• You drink large amounts of alcohol.

Treat any health problems you have

• Manage high blood pressure or high cholesterol by working with your doctor.
• Manage diabetes. Keep your blood sugar levels within a target range.
• If your doctor advises you to take aspirin or a blood thinner, take it. This can help prevent a stroke.
• Take your medicine exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle

• Don't smoke or allow others to smoke around you. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.
• Limit alcohol to 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
• Stay at a healthy weight. Being overweight makes it more likely you will develop high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes. These conditions make a stroke more likely.
• Do activities that raise your heart rate. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. Walking is a good choice. You also may want to do other activities, such as running, swimming, cycling, or playing tennis or team sports.

  Fitness: Walking for Wellness

• Eat a balanced diet that is low in cholesterol, saturated fats, and salt. What kind of diet you use(What is a PDF document?) depends on your individual risks, your doctor's recommendation, and your preference. Here are some options:
  • Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet
  • Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC) diet
  • American Heart Association diet
  • Mediterranean-style diet