Your 4-Step Plan To Avoid A Stroke

The number of people having a stroke is falling – and those surviving one is rising. Here’s what you can do

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There’s good news on stroke. The amount of people having one has dropped by 20% in the past decade, while deaths from a stroke have more than halved in the same period, thanks to healthier lifestyles, drugs to cut cholesterol and high blood pressure, and better treatment.

But someone still has a stroke every five minutes in the UK, so there’s more we can do to raise awareness, says Mark MacDonald from the Stroke Association. ‘Often important stroke risk factors, such as atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, and diabetes, can be prevented or managed through healthy eating and exercise, as well as medical treatment.’

Help protect yourself by following these simple steps...

Step 1 Look at your lifestyle

How you live your life can have a huge impact on your chance of a stroke. Regular exercise can cut your risk by 27% – by lowering your blood pressure and helping you maintain a healthy weight. While smoking doubles your risk of dying from a stroke because it damages your arteries, raises your blood pressure and makes your blood more likely to clot.

Drinking too much alcohol also hikes up your blood pressure, making you more prone to a stroke. Binge drinking (having several units in one sitting) is particularly dangerous as it causes a very swift blood-pressure rise.

Stay active. All it takes is 30 minutes of moderate activity at least five times a week – walking, gardening and dancing.