Eating fruits, vegetables, nuts helps to lower stroke risk

Zee Media Bureau

New York: Including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, poultry and fish in diet; engaging in physical activity and keeping the blood pressure under control can lower the risk of a first time stroke.

James Meschia, M.D, lead author of the study at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida said,''We have a huge opportunity to improve how we prevent new strokes, because risk factors that can be changed or controlled - especially high blood pressure - account for 90 percent of strokes."

Smoking and taking oral birth control pills can significantly increase your stroke risk. If you're a woman who experiences migraines with aura, smoking raises your risk of stroke even more than in the general population.

Stroke and heart attack risks can also be lowered by avoiding secondhand smoke.

Researchers suggested that changing of lifestyle by getting more involved into physical activity, eating a healthy diet and managing weight can prevent pre hypertension from becoming high blood pressure.

"Talking about stroke prevention is worthwhile," Meschia said. "In many instances, stroke isn't fatal, but it leads to years of physical, emotional and mental impairment that could be avoided."

The study appeared in the journal Stroke.