Want to Reduce Your Stroke Risk? Get Moving

In most cases, strokes happen without warning. But many strokes are preventable, and according to a recent study published in Stroke, getting physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce your risk.

Experts already know that being active helps reduce three of the risk factors for stroke — high blood pressure, diabetes and excessive body fat. However, the researchers found that physical activity also seems to reduce stroke risk on its own, beyond its effect on these risk factors.

“It’s possible to significantly reduce stroke risk by getting at least 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, such as brisk walking, cycling or jogging,” says Howard Eisenbrock, D.O., of Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center.