LifestyleThere are various adjustments you can make to help you feel fitter and healthier and reduce your risk of stroke.  Stick to safe alcohol limits. That's no more than two to three units a day for women and no more than three to four units a day for men. A unit equals half a pint of ordinary strength beer, a small glass of wine or a single pub measure of spirits. Avoid binge drinking. Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short space of time increases the risk of stroke. Know what drugs you're taking. Some medication can be affected by alcohol. Ask your doctor for information. Watch your weight. Being overweight stresses the heart and increases the risk of high blood pressure. Your doctor can tell you what's a healthy weight for you. The best way to lose weight is a low-fat diet and regular activity. You may find it motivating to join a slimming club. See Your weight for advice. Stop smoking. Even if you've tried to quit before, it's worth trying again. You can use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), complementary therapies such as acupuncture, join a stop-smoking group or attend an NHS smoking cessation clinic to increase your chances of successfully quitting. Prescription medication is also available. Stay calm. Stress can contribute to high blood pressure. Learning stress-management techniques and making time for rest and relaxation can only be good for you. This needn't be passive - yoga or meditation can help. Share your feelings. Bottling things up can make worries appear larger than they are. Sharing feelings and worries may help ease the burden. Take control. An event such as a stroke can be shocking and depressing. However, taking control of your life by doing as much as you can to reduce your risk can be a positive step and help to banish feelings of depression. Get support. There's a range of support services for people who've had a stroke. Medication. Drugs, such as anti-platelet medicines (for example, aspirin), may be recommended to prevent stroke in those thought to be at risk.
This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Rob Hicks in July 2007.
First published in January 2000.
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