There is a sharp reduction in the numbers of death from stroke as a result of technological and pharmacological advances of modern medicine. Nonetheless, it is important to prevent heart disease altogether.
While it can take some work to convert a high risk for cardiovascular disease into a low risk, it is very possible. All you need do is make these small changes to your daily routine, and they add up to a powerful dose of heart disease prevention.
Take a B vitamin complex every morning
When researchers in Switzerland asked more than 200 men and women to take either a combination of three B vitamins (folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12) or a placebo after they had surgery to open their arteries, they found that levels of homocysteine (a chemical linked to an increased risk of heart disease), were 40 percent lower in those who took the vitamins.
The placebo group had no change. Plus, the vitamin group had wider-open blood vessels than those taking the sugar pill.
Eat fish at least once a week
Whether you decide to have fish baked, grilled, sautéed, boiled, or roasted, just have it.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that women who ate fish at least once a week were one-third less likely to have a heart attack or die of heart disease than those who ate fish only once a month.
Other studies show similar benefits for men. Another major study found regular fish consumption reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation—rapid, irregular heartbeat—a major cause of sudden death and stroke.
Ride A Bike 20 Minutes Per Day
When German researchers had 100 men with mild chest pain, or angina, either exercise 20 minutes a day on a stationary bike or undergo an artery-clearing procedure called angioplasty, they found that a year after the angioplasty, 21 men suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other problem compared to only 6 of the bikers.
This brings to the fore the importance of exercise in reducing the risk of stroke.
Eat a piece of dark chocolate several times every week
Several small studies suggest dark chocolate could be good for your heart! The beneficial effects of chocolate on preventing stroke are likely due to chemicals in chocolate called flavonoids, which help arteries stay flexible.
They also seem to make arteries less likely to clot and prevent the “bad” cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), from oxidizing, making it less likely to form plaque.
Dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium and fiber. You should however stay away from milk chocolate, which is high in butterfat and thus tends to raise cholesterol.
Have a beer once a day
Sounds strange? A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that men who drank one beer a day for one month lowered their cholesterol levels, increased their blood levels of heart-healthy antioxidants, and reduced their levels of fibrinogen, a protein that contributes to blood clots.
