Despite many people believing it, it is not that difficult to prevent strokes if you make certain lifestyle changes and try to improve your overall health. I have enlisted a few below:
1. Take control of your blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the greatest contributors to experiencing a stroke. If allowed to rise without check, it increases your chances of having a stroke by almost four times. You need to regularly monitor your blood pressure and take immediate steps to control it if it has increased. Ideally, blood pressure on the downside of 140/90 is optimum to avoid the risk of strokes.
You can lower your blood pressure by reducing your salt intake to just a half teaspoon daily. Consuming too much salt is the main reason for most people having high blood pressure. Avoid high cholesterol foods and instead eat the optimum quantity of fresh fruits and vegetables each day along with fresh dairy products. Regular exercise and physical activity will also help keep your blood pressure levels under control.
2. Maintain your weight
Eating without control will ultimately lead to obesity which will increase your chances of experiencing a stroke because of heightened blood pressure and an increased risk of diabetes. In order to prevent strokes, it is vital that you reduce your weight and maintain it.
Consult your doctor and reckon a healthy weight for you based on your age and other aspects. Once your doctor informs you of the optimum weight, make a diet plan and strictly stick to it to achieve the desired target. In your daily routine, make sufficient time for physical activities as they will help you reduce weight at a faster pace.
3. Exercise regularly/daily
Exercising is the best way to keep your body healthy. Not only does it reduce weight and lower blood pressure, but it also acts as a stroke controller. It has a major impact on your general health and will greatly reduce your risk of having a stroke.
Regularity does not mean that you hit the gyms and do rigorous routines, just doing some basic physical activities will be sufficient to keep your body fit – go for morning walks, try to walk to places that are nearby instead of taking a vehicle, use the stairs and skip the lift, etc.
4. Limit your alcohol consumption
While various studies have shown that drinking a glass of alcohol decreases your risk of stroke, drinking more than two glasses daily, significantly increases your risk of experiencing a stroke. The best thing to do is to limit your consumption of alcohol or avoid alcohol altogether. However, if you pick up the bottle, make sure that you do not consume more than one glass daily. Also, red wine is a better choice among all the others as it contains elements that are believed to protect the heart.
5. Keep blood sugar levels at bay
Increased blood sugar levels will damage your blood vessels over time and will increase the risk of clot formations that will obstruct blood flow and heighten the chances of experiencing a stroke. You will have to monitor your blood sugar levels regularly and take the necessary steps to keep it in the specified limit. Maintain a diet plan that helps limit your sugar intake and take prescribed medicines so that it doesn’t heighten above the bar.
6. Quit smoking
Smoking increases your risk of experiencing a stroke by accelerating clot formation in your veins which prevents the smooth flow of blood to the heart. It also results in the thickening of your blood which increases the amount of plaques in your arteries leading to clots and subsequently a stroke.
If you are a smoker, quitting smoking is one of the greatest changes you can bring in your lifestyle to prevent a stroke. Consult your doctor and identify the safest and most efficient way for you to quit smoking. You can also try aids such as nicotine pills to assist you along the way.
Health is wealth, quite literally!
Along with the mentioned ways to prevent a stroke, you can also take the help of medicines like Ecosprin. It is one of the most recommended medicine to prevent heart strokes as it reduces clot formation in your body and results in smooth blood flow to your heart.
