Washington, June 11 (ANI): Quitting smoke, limiting alcohol, eating more fruits and vegetables, and keeping your weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar in check, can lower your likelihood of stroke.
Still, there are eight lesser-known ways to protect yourself, based on research, ABC News reported.
Walk 20 minutes a day. We know-you work, you have kids, errands to run, dinner to make, and an episode of Real Housewives to watch, but make the time.
Even if you break it up into two 10-minute sessions, it's worth it.
Walking a total of 2 hours a week can cut your stroke risk by 30 percent, according to a large study of nearly 40,000 women, conducted over a 12-year period.
Walk briskly (so you can talk but not sing) and your chances are reduced by almost 40 percent.
Know the difference between sad and depressed. The latter makes you 29 percent more likely to suffer from stroke, says a new study of more than 80,000 women.
Depressed women tend to smoke more, weigh more and exercise less; plus, they're more likely to have uncontrolled medical issues, like high blood pressure and diabetes, which can also increase stroke risk.
Recognize depression symptoms and you can get proper treatment.
Talk to your doctor if you: feel persistent sadness, anxiousness, or "emptiness"; hopeless; guilty, worthless or helpless; irritable; exhausted; if you lose interest in things you used to like; can't concentrate or sleep; overeat or lose your appetite; think about suicide or have aches and pains that don't go away even with treatment.
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Steps to prevent a stroke revealed