It’s a fact of life – as you get older, the possibility of having a stroke increases as well. Men over the age of 55, and African Americans in particular, are at greater risk. Here’s a quick list from the National Stroke Association of things you can do right now to lessen your chances of having a stroke.

1. Monitor Your Blood Pressure. Your blood pressure is one of the most critical stroke risk factors. Fortunately, it’s one of the most easily controlled. However, you do have to work at it. Start by having it checked and evaluated by your doctor. Do not skip this step. Although anyone with a simple monitor can tell you what your blood pressure is, only a doctor can tell you what it means and what the ideal range should be for a person with your body type, age, and lifestyle. Once your doctor has discussed this with you, monitor your pressure on a regular basis with any of the home monitors that are readily available.
2. Curb Those Unhealthy Habits. Make a concentrated effort to curb those unhealthy habits that can adversely affect your blood pressure. These include smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and drinking caffeinated beverages. All of these unhealthy habits narrow your arteries making the formation of a clot more likely and increasing your blood pressure. If you don’t have the willpower to cut them out completely, then reduce them by 25% for a month. The following month, reduce them by another 25% and so on.
3. Eat Healthy. Your diet is an important stroke risk factor. Make sure yours is healthy by reducing the amount of salt in your diet as well as by eliminating high cholesterol-producing foods.
4. Exercise More. Sorry, but every plan for good health seems to end in “exercise more.” There’s no way around it. Exercise will help keep your weight in check, increase muscle tone and strength, and help lower your blood pressure. So quit complaining about it and just do it.

A stroke can radically alter your independent lifestyle. Many people never completely recover. Don’t be one of them. “Stroke-proof” yourself as much as possible by following these four simple steps.

To your good health!

Hiram

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