Stroke Prevention

Many stroke risk factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be changed, treated, or medically modified. Some things you can do to control your risk factors are listed below.

Lifestyle changes

Discuss lifestyle changes with your healthcare provider to find out what is right for you. The Medical Center Health & Wellness can help you get on track and stay there with free screenings, events and classes. Call 270-745-0942 to learn more.

Most strokes can be prevented by following American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommendations. To minimize your risk for stroke, take these steps:

  • Control blood pressure – High blood pressure is the number one cause of stroke. Your primary care physician or our Health & Wellness can help you monitor your blood pressure.
  • Manage cholesterol – For most people, the combined HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) should fall below 200. Talk to your doctor about how to improve your numbers if they are out of range. If you need a primary care physician, visit our Find a Provider page.
  • Make healthy lifestyle changes – Quit smoking, eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, limit alcohol use and exercise daily. Med Center Health offers a variety of classes and programs to help you live healthy.
  • Control Diabetes – People with diabetes are twice as likely to have a stroke. Monitor your blood sugar levels and take steps to control your diabetes. The Medical Center Diabetes Education Program can help.
  • Manage AFib – People with AFib have a five-times greater risk of stroke. Work with your heart care specialist to properly manage your AFib.

While the following are out of your control, they are important in determining your risk.

  • Age – risk doubles for each decade past 55 years old
  • Sex – younger men and older women are at highest risk
  • Family History – immediate family history of stroke increases your risk by 50%
  • Race – African Americans are more impacted by stroke than any other racial group
  • Prior Stroke – about 25% of strokes that occur each year are recurrent events.