What it is: A stroke occurs when one of the blood vessels in the brain ruptures or becomes clogged by a blood clot that reaches the brain.

Effects: Strokes can result in the paralysis of parts of the body and the loss of abilities such as speech, touch and memory.

At risk: If you smoke, are overweight or drink more than a moderate amount, you are increasing your chance of having a stroke. African-American men and women are at substantially higher risk of dying from stroke. If you are older, or have a family history of stroke, your risk is also higher.

Prevention

• Know your numbers. Have you blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly, and work to keep them low.
• Stay active: even moderate exercise can greatly benefit your heart and health.
• Eat wisely: Your diet can save your life. Healthy eating includes plenty of vegetables and fruits each day.
• Lifestyle: Weight reduction, less salt in your diet, and keeping your alcohol consumption low are all important. If you smoke, now is the time to quit.

Quick medical attention is vital to surviving and recovering from a stroke. Watch for these signs and call 9-1-1 if you suspect that you or someone else may be having a stroke.

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms or legs
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding others
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

• Fight high blood pressure
• Visit our Nutrition pages to find easy ways to healthy eating.
• Use the Cardiovascular toolkit to reach more resources on heart health.