Other measured risk factors included:
- Physical inactivity: 36 percent
- Poor diet: 23 percent
- Obesity: 19 percent
- Smoking: 12 percent
- Heart causes: 9 percent
- Lipids (blood fats): 27 percent
- Diabetes: 4 percent
- Alcohol use: 6 percent
- Stress: 6 percent
According to study co-leader Dr. Salim Yusuf, professor of medicine and executive director of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University, “Our findings will inform the development of global population-level interventions to reduce stroke, and how such programs may be tailored to individual regions, as we did observe some regional differences in the importance of some risk factors by region.”
So how does one control their blood pressure in order to prevent myocardial infarction and stroke?
- Eating a better diet – this includes cutting back on sodium (salt)
- Manage daily stressors
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Limit excessive drinking
- Exercise regularly
- Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
- Cut back on caffeine
- Quit smoking
- Keep a close eye on your HBP
By adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, you can:
- Reduce high blood pressure
- Prevent or delay the development of HBP
- Enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications
- Lower your risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease
For more information on stroke warning signs and prevention, click here.