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"Strokes are nondiscriminatory. A blockage interrupting the blood flow to your brain or a ruptured blood vessel can affect anyone, at any age. But you can significantly reduce the likelihood of having a stroke by lowering your risks, says Steven J. Kittner, M.D., director of the Maryland Stroke Center at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Reducing even one risk can greatly lower your chances of having an attack. Here are the most common risks. Strokes can affect anyone at any time, but you can significantly reduce the likelihood of having a stroke by lowering your risks. High blood pressure. Be sure to get yours checked regularly. Keep the first number under 140 and the second under 90.   High cholesterol. Elevated blood cholesterol accelerates the development of blocked arteries. The total number should be under 200, and the LDL cholesterol (the &amp;quot;bad&amp;quot; one) should be under 160 -- with lower targets for people with higher risks.   Obesity. If you have a body mass index greater than 24, start a regular exercise and weight-loss plan now.  Heart disease (or a family history of it). Heart disease can increase your risk of stroke two- to threefold, so discuss with your physician your risks and how to control them.   Diabetes. Just one more reason to keep blood sugar levels under control.   Migraines. Researchers recently found that women who suffer from migraines with aura (bright or flashing dots, blind spots, distorted vision or other sensory disturbances that precede the headache) can be up to 10 times more likely to suffer a stroke, depending on other risk factors.   Drinking and smoking. Women should have no more than one drink a day. And if you quit smoking, within several years, your stroke risk can be the same as someone who never lit up.   Clotting disorders. Women who&amp;#039;ve had more than one miscarriage may be at higher risk for blood clots, which can increase their chance of a stroke.   Taking the Pill. Even women who take a low-estrogen birth control pill are twice as likely to have a stroke than those who don&amp;#039;t.   Taking some HRT medications. The Women&amp;#039;s Health Initiative has reported that a woman who takes Prempro -- a type of hormone replacement therapy -- may have a slightly increased stroke risk by the second year of use.   As frightening as this checklist sounds, doctors have found that if someone gets treatment immediately after a stroke, there&amp;#039;s a better chance of getting the blood moving to the brain and less chance of damage. That&amp;#039;s why it&amp;#039;s important to recognize stroke symptoms: numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, usually on one side of the body; blurred or double vision; difficulty speaking, remembering or understanding others; loss of balance or coordination; or a sudden severe headache.   For a free wallet-size card listing common symptoms and the tests needed to diagnose a stroke, call the Hazel K. Goddess Fund for Stroke Research in Women at 212-734-8067 or click here. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a1557/lowering-stroke-risks-aug03/?src=shelter_footer>