Few people know more about stroke prevention and brain health than neurologist and epidemiologist Dr. Bruce Ovbiagele. And one of the first things he'd like you to know is that you have a"tremendous" amount of control over your own stroke risk.
He discussed his routine for"The Experts Say," an American Heart Association News series where specialists explain how they apply what they've learned to their own lives. A: One, what it is. Many people are not aware of what a stroke actually is, what part of the body is affected, and how devastating it can be.
Trying to avoid stress to every extent possible can be helpful. Complying with your doctor's recommendations is also very, very important. A: Age is the biggest one. We know that for every decade after the age of 55, the risk of experiencing a stroke doubles. I take the staircase almost all the time unless there's some compelling reason not to. I'm notorious for doing that in every workplace that I've been. But I do that all the time -- and encourage my colleagues to do so, as well.A: I try to get at least five servings of fruits or vegetables in. If I'm feeling a little peckish, I nibble on almonds. I try not to do too much of that. But I do nibble, and that helps me feel a little more full.
A: I will say that I could do better. But one of my strengths is that as much as possible, I really try to do things that I enjoy. I love learning. Some people might see that as onerous, but that actually fuels me.