Carotid artery disease - Prevention

Prevention:

The following can help prevent a stroke:

• Avoid fatty foods. Follow a healthy, low-fat diet.
• Do not drink more than 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks a day.
• Exercise regularly: 30 minutes a day if you are not overweight; 60 - 90 minutes a day if you are overweight.
• Quit smoking.
• Get your blood pressure checked every 1 - 2 years, especially if high blood pressure runs in your family. If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, or have had stroke, you need to have it checked more often. Ask your doctor.
• Everyone should keep their blood pressure below 120-130/80 mmHg. If you have diabetes or have had a stroke, you may need to strive for a lower blood pressure. Ask your doctor what it should be.
• Adults should have their cholesterol checked every 5 years and treated, if needed. If you have been treated for high cholesterol, you will need it checked more often.
• If you have diabetes, heart disease, or hardening of the arteries somewhere else in your body, your LDL "bad" cholesterol should be lower than 70 mg/dL.
• Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease.