Regardless of your age, genetics and gender, strokes do not have to be inevitable. Here are some tips to help decrease your chances of suffering from a stroke, starting today.
Lose weight
Obesity is a major factor contributing to an increase in your chances of suffering from a stroke. Losing as little as two to three kgs can have a significant impact on decreasing your risk of suffering from a stroke. An ideal way to ensure a healthy body weight is to make sure that your BMI is 25 or less.
Exercise more
Exercising regularly keeps your body fit and healthy, while also improving the strength and immunity of your
body. It helps keep the strokes at bay by boosting your body’s ability to protect itself. Set a daily workout
routine and stick to it religiously.
Some ways to do that might include:
Choosing to take the stairs instead of the elevator
Starting a fitness club with a motivated group of friends
Choosing a workout buddy in order to make the activity more fun and to keep you from ditching your workout
routine.
Lower your blood pressure
High blood pressure is the biggest contributor to stroke in both men and women. Maintaining a blood pressure of around 120/80 or lesser is best for your body and decreases the risk of a stroke by a huge margin. In order to keep your blood pressure in control,
- Restrict your regular salt intake to around half a teaspoon or 1500 milligrams a day.
- Exercise regularly. Manage at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day.
- Consume a lot of fruits and vegetables. Also include fish, low-fat dairy and whole grains in your diet.
Quit smoking. Today!
Smoking thickens your blood and causes it to clot faster. It also increases the rate of plaque buildup in your arteries, thus increasing your chances of suffering from a stroke. Quitting smoking is the first step that you should take to avoid a stroke.
Take the aid of nicotine patches, medicines, pills, etc.- take any help you need to get rid of your habit of smoking. Even if you cannot resist the urge to smoke and slip up a couple of times, do not give up. It usually takes multiple efforts to stop smoking. Just be strong and consistent in your endeavours.
Too many people ignore the signs of a stroke, including vision loss, severe headache, numbness of the face and weakness on one side of the body. Consult your doctor if you notice one or more of the signs.
