Eat right! Exercise! Maintain a healthy weight! These aren’t just words your doctor has memorized; they’re the basics for maintaining a healthy lifestyle AND for preventing a stroke. The American Stroke Association states that the factors causing strokes – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. – are within your control.
If you have experienced a stroke or would like to reduce your risk of a stroke, the National Stroke Association recommends these lifestyle changes:
- Control your blood pressure
- Have a cardiac exam to check for conditions that may lead to blood clots, like atrial fibrillation
- Stop smoking
- Limit alcohol intake
- Monitor cholesterol levels
- Properly manage diabetes
- Exercise regularly
- Eat foods low in sodium and fat
- Monitor circulation issues
For proper stroke prevention, your doctor knows best! The American Stroke Association indicates that following your doctor’s orders is one of the most important steps you can take to control your stroke risk. To learn more about preventing a stroke or caring for someone at home after a stroke, contact the expert caregivers at Aunt Ann’s Home Care in San Francisco at 415.974.3530 or 650.757.2000.
