Primary Stroke Center
Stroke Prevention
The Primary Stroke Center at Wake Forest Baptist Health is committed to helping patients at risk for stroke stay healthy. To stay healthy, you need to know what your stroke risk factors are, and how to manage them.
Stroke Risk Factors
Significant risk factors for strokes include:
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Previous transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
Reducing Your Risk for Strokes
Our specialists work together with you and with your other physicians to develop a stroke prevention plan. Prevention plans may include customized medication management, as well as important ways for you to change your lifestyle to help keep risk factors in control. Lifestyle changes you may need to make prevent strokes include:
- Stop smoking – Smoking can damage your blood vessels, which increases your risk for strokes
- Eat a healthy diet – Make sure to include foods low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and high in fiber to manage your cholesterol levels, and limit foods high in salt to keep your blood pressure in check
- Exercise regularly – At least 30 minutes a day of exercise can help keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, and help you maintain a healthy weight
- Stay at a healthy weight – If you are overweight, you have an increased risk for strokes
- Recognize the signs of a stroke:
You may also want to know your own risk for a stroke—visit the Ward A. Riley Ultrasound Center for more information on how our healthcare practitioners can assess that risk.
Learn more about stroke education we offer patients at Wake Forest Baptist.