Keep your blood pressure under control. If you are overweight, losing even as few as 10 pounds can help reduce your blood pressure, as can salt restriction, exercise and managing stress. Keep your diabetes under control. Tightly controlled blood sugar levels can reduce your stroke risk by one-third. 5. Sedentary habits can raise your blood pressure, increase your weight, and create an unhealthy balance between good and bad cholesterol.
Exercise can reverse the process.
If you drink, keep it moderate, no more than one drink per day for women or two for men, with less as you age. HRT has been proven to reduce risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially if combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. The Seton Heart Center manages a Coumadin Clinic to monitor patients on the medication. The Clinic is in Seton Medical Park Tower. Call 324-1441 for more information.