A significant share of stroke risk factors can be controlled, according to Olga Zincheva, a neurologist at SM-Clinica. She told Lenta.ru that following a few simple daily habits can substantially reduce the risk of the condition.
Zincheva said the first priority is regularly checking blood pressure. She said many people live for years without knowing they have hypertension, since it often has no symptoms, even though it is the leading risk factor for stroke. She advised measuring blood pressure periodically even when feeling well, especially after age 40.
Exercise and diet
Zincheva said regular physical activity plays an equally important role. She said moderate activity is enough for prevention, such as brisk daily walking, swimming, cycling or any other activity totaling at least 150 minutes a week. She also named healthy eating habits as a useful practice.
Smoking and alcohol
Zincheva recommended quitting smoking and cutting back on alcohol. She said nicotine and other components of tobacco smoke damage blood vessel walls, accelerate atherosclerosis and increase the blood's tendency to form clots. She added that regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol raises blood pressure, contributes to heart rhythm problems and increases the likelihood of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
