A Swedish study that followed more than 30,000 women over 10 years found that those who maintained a healthy diet, exercised regularly, never smoked, drank only moderately and kept their BMI below 25 had a 54% lower risk of stroke than women who didn't meet any of those goals. Here are four other ways to lower your risk:
Check your numbers.
If you have diabetes or your doctor warns you that you are prediabetic, be sure to control your blood sugar levels. Blood pressure should ideally be less than 140/90 and LDL cholesterol below 100, says Dr. Greene-Chandos.
Eat the right fats.
A large, long-term Spanish study found that the plant-based Mediterranean diet, supplemented by extra virgin olive oil or tree nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds), cut risk of heart disease and stroke 30% compared with eating a low-fat diet.
Snack on citrus and chocolate.
A higher intake of flavonoids (found in whole citrus fruits) may reduce your risk of ischemic stroke up to 19%, possibly by lowering inflammation and improving blood vessel function, says a big U.S. study. Meanwhile, another study of almost 21,000 people in the U.K. found that those who ate up to 100 grams of any type of chocolate each day had an almost 25% lower risk of any cardiovascular disease, including stroke, than those who didn't eat any.
Seek help if you're depressed.
Long-term depression has been found to double stroke risk in people over 50, possibly due to changes in health behaviors, inflammation, increases in blood pressure or other biological changes. If you suffer from depression, ask your doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist who can help you find ways to manage it, whether via medication, talk therapy or both.
This story originally appeared in the February 2017 issue of Good Housekeeping.