The people most likely to be at risk are those who are older people and others with certain medical problems, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes.

Lifestyle factors such as diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and how active you are in your daily life, all affect your level of risk.

SMOKING

Stop smoking – we all know the many reasons why we should not smoke.

Smoking doubles your risk of a stroke because it causes the arteries to fur up (atherosclerosis) and makes the blood more likely to clot. This increases the risk of a stroke.

If you Stop smoking you can cut the risk of a stroke in half – no matter how old you are or how long you have smoked. Giving up is not easy but it will improve your health.

HEALTHY EATING

‘We Are What We Eat’. Eating healthy is essential for a healthy heart and bloodstream

Snack on fruit and vegetables. Don’t fill up on junk food. Instead, eat as much fresh fruit, vegetables, and dried fruit as you like.

You should aim for at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. A portion is about 80 grams  – for example, one apple, or one orange or a glass of orange juice, one large carrot, two broccoli florets, a handful of grapes or three tablespoons of peas.

REDUCE YOUR SALT 

Salt raises blood pressure. Don’t add salt to your food and avoid processed foods which contain a lot of salt.

WATCH YOUR WEIGHT

Being overweight is a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes, all of which increase your risk of stroke. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help you to control your weight.

 ALCOHOL

Drink sensibly. Drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure. Binge drinking (drinking more than six units in six hours) is particularly dangerous as it can cause blood pressure to soar. If you limit your alcohol to within the following guidelines, then there’s nothing wrong with the occasional drink – in moderation, it may even do you good!

• Women should drink no more than two to three units of alcohol a day. (Women who are pregnant should not drink at all.)
• Men should drink no more than three to four units a day.
• Don’t drink every day. Try to have a few alcohol-free days a week.

A unit of alcohol is a small glass of wine, a single pub measure of spirits or a pot of weak beer or lager.

 EXERCISE

Regular exercise and physical activity helps to lower blood pressure, creates a healthy balance of blood fats and improves your body’s ability to handle insulin.

To get started, you should select an activity that you enjoy. Choose simple activities such as walking, dancing, swimming, cycling, tennis or golf. It doesn’t matter what you do as long as it makes you feel warm and slightly out of breath. Gardening and housework are also good exercise!