Researchers at UCLA found that women between ages 45-54 were nearly 2.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke than men of the same age.

Possible factors include abdominal obesity, hypertension (elevated blood pressure) and hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol levels).

Addressing these issues should help reduce your risk. Here are some things you can do:

1. If you are overweight, begin a program to change that – including dietary changes as well as exercise.
2. If your blood pressure is above 130/80, see your health care provider and find out what you can do to reduce it.
3. If you smoke…stop.
4. Get your cholesterol checked. If your LDL is high (this is the bad, or Lousy cholesterol) you will need to take steps to reduce it.
5. Ask your health care provider if taking aspirin is right for you.

Above all, learn more about strokes. Visit the American Stroke Association

May is Stroke Awarness Month and the American Heart Association | American Stroke Association has launched new guidelines for stroke preventon.

Here are some things that you can be doing:

• Get your blood pressure checked. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a significiant risk factor. You can reduce your risk of stokes due to hypertension with proper treatment.
• Dont’ smoke and eliminate your exposure to secondhand smoke.
• If you have diabetes, it is imperative that you maintain tight control of your blood pressure, as well as your cholesterol.
• If you already have hypertension reduce you intake of sodium (salt) to no more than 2.3 grams per day and increase your potassium intake to (4.7 gms per day) – eat a diet high in fruit, vegatbles, low-fat dairy products and low in saturated and total fat.
• Lower your total cholesterol to acceptable levels.
• Be physically active (moderate-intensity) for at least 30 minutes a day. That’s one brisk walk for 30 minutes.

The American Stroke Association recently launched Power To End Stroke, an aggressive education and awareness initiative to reach African Americans, who are at greater stroke risk than other ethnic groups. For more information on stroke or the Power To End Stroke campaign, call 1-888-4STROKE, or visit the American Stroke Association Web site: strokeassociation.org/power.