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July - Focus on Stroke Prevention

Know the Facts About Stroke

You can greatly reduce your risk for stroke by making lifestyle changes to help control your blood pressure and cholesterol levels and, in some cases, by taking medication.

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, happens in one of two ways:

  1. Ischemic stroke is when the blood supply to the brain is blocked.
  2. Hemorrhagic stroke is when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.

Several factors that are beyond your control can increase your risk for stroke. These include your:

  • Age;
  • Sex; and
  • Ethnicity.

There are many unhealthy habits that increase your risk of stroke, such as:

  • Smoking;
  • Drinking too much alcohol; and
  • Not getting enough exercise.

Using tobacco products and having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity can also increase your risk. However, treating these conditions can reduce your risk of a stroke. Ask your doctor about preventing or treating these medical conditions.


For more information on the facts about stroke visit here.

Useful links:

  1. https://hally.com/2021/07/save-lives-with-stroke-awareness/
  2. https://www.healthlink.com/documents/stroke.pdf
  3. https://www.bcbsil.com/bcchp/getting-care/health-and-wellness/stroke
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/conditions.htm
  5. http://www.aetna.com/employer-plans/document-library/wellness-dash-plan.pdf