Stroke prevention

You can't control your family history, age, gender or ethnicity. But luckily, you can do something about other factors that could increase your risk of having a stroke such as obesity, diet, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells begin to die. If the blood supply is not restored, the affected part of the brain dies, causing disability and death.

Help prevent a stroke by learning more about the risk factors you can do something about and those you can't control.

Risk issues you can do something about

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High blood cholesterol
• Heart disease atrial fibrillation
• Diabetes
• Being overweight
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Physical inactivity
• Smoking
• Stress  

Risk factors you can't control

• Age
• Gender
• Family History
• Ethnicity
• History of stroke or TIA

What is your risk?
 
Heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death, so it is important to understand how to prevent them. The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk.

When certain risk factors occur together, known as  metabolic syndrome , the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes becomes greater.

Are you at risk? Take the Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment^TM and get a personalized risk profile and a customized action plan for healthy living that includes tips, tools, recipes and much more to help you reduce your risk.

For more information on stroke prevention, please read our brochure Taking control: Lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

Last reviewed January 2012
Last modified January 2012.