Strokes are a shock to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen. Strokes can have lasting consequences, depending on how long they last, as a lack of oxygen can cause cell death. If you have had one stroke, you are at risk of having another. Because the heart is responsible for pumping oxygen to the brain, maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system is the most effective way to treat and prevent a stroke.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is the number one cause of heart disease and any blood flow irregularities. The damage to your lungs is, of course, something to worry about, but your entire body is a victim of the smoke in a way. After your mouth and your lungs, your heart will suffer the most. Statistics show that 80% of individuals waiting for a heart transplant used smoke cigarettes at some point.

Stop Drinking

Excessive drinking can cause damage that takes a while for your body to repair. Chronic alcoholism is known to contribute to heart disease and stroke, at a risk-rate higher than anything else, besides smoking. Drinking in moderation gives your body time to recover, which means it is able to process other toxins faster.

Don’t do Drugs

Drug abuse is a danger to your entire body. And we don’t just mean by overdose. Regular drug use can cause your body to slow down, thus slowing the source of oxygen to your brain. The lack of oxygen can suddenly lead to stroke. Speed and cocaine are primarily known for their heart-stopping effects, due to their high impact on one’s blood flow.

Stay Away from Fizzy Drinks

It may seem harmless to your heart on first thought, but you may want to consider cutting down on all that extra soda. Spice your lunch up with something else; water is great for example. Natural juices made from unprocessed fruit can be an excellent substitute for carbonated beverages. These beverages are high in sugar which has a significant effect on heart health. Carbonation can also irritate the stomach.

Lose weight

Being overweight or obese can do serious damage to your heart. Since it’s already the most pressured organ in your body, any extra exertion can prove fatal if you neglect it. Even if your weight isn’t critical, cutting down any extra pounds can only do good for your heart. Consider doing cardio-related exercise and consulting with a doctor or nutritionist to find your ideal daily caloric intake. Remember, everyone has a different healthy weight and caloric needs.

Cut down on salt

There are many other alternatives to salt, so why not only avoid it for gastronomic purposes? Other than that, not putting a lot of salt in whatever you’re eating will most definitely do good to your kidneys and your heart. Salt is proven to be one of the most common causes of heart disease and other cardiovascular difficulties, and it’s a well-known weight gain food supplement. The salt will contain juices in your body while drying it out, so plainly put, those who exaggerate with table salt end up drinking way more liquid than they’re supposed to.

Treat atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a condition where your heart skips beats or pounds too fast, meaning it’s doing hardly repairable damage to itself. A good way to find out whether you have it or not is by simply visiting your doctor for a regular check-up. Those with atrial fibrillation are at five times higher of a stroke risk than those who do not. While atrial fibrillation isn’t related to your habits or what you consume, it is more dangerous than all of that, combined.

Exercise more

Exercise in itself may not be able to cure your heart completely, but it undoubtedly contributes a considerable amount to its health. This especially goes for those that undertake office work. Sitting still for hours on end and consuming fast food is sure to do more bad than good. Also, longer periods of restricted movement can cause the appearance of unwanted cardiovascular system complications, such as a thrombus. By simply exercising regularly on a weekly basis, you are ridding yourself of the risk of such issues, while also pumping healthy blood into your heart and muscles.

Treat diabetes

All those glucose level fluctuations inevitably do harm to your bloodstream in the long run, and sometimes, insulin isn’t enough. You need to resort to other methods that further regulate your sugar levels so that you can bring their abnormalities to a constant minimum. Almost every diabetes sufferer tends to face heart-related issues due to their illness, since it causes the blood vessels to work overtime, thus increasing the risk of blood clots appearing. A blood clot greatly slows the flow wherever it appears, meaning your heart will have enormous functioning difficulties if the issue persists.

Lower your blood pressure

Irregular blood flow leads your blood vessels into shrinking or widening beyond their standard size, which, again, leaves space for the appearance of blood clots and other issues. By following all the above steps, you can keep your blood pressure at a reasonable level and avoid the greatest possible risk of having a stroke (besides atrial fibrillation). Regular blood pressure tests are recommended on a monthly basis, for you can rarely notice such seemingly minor changes.