The conclusions of a stroke study called the INTERSTRIKE Study should be pinned to everyone’s fridge, patched into their in-box to read every day, maybe even pasted onto their skulls so that everyone they meet can read it because these conclusions are IMPORTANT.

What the study determined after comparing patients who’d had a stroke with patients who hadn’t had a stroke in 22 countries (both developed and 3rd world countries) is that 90% of strokes are preventable, or at least that 90% of strokes are caused by 10 factors that we can control. When you consider the damage that strokes cause – it’s the number 3 cause of death in Canada, and of those who survive, the great majority are left with permanent impairment, much of it severe, so that not only do stroke survivors pay a great price but so do their families – everyone should take strong note of this study.

So what are those factors?

As expected, high blood pressure is number one (with a bullet!), while the others are:

• smoking
• abdominal obesity
• unhealthy diet
• lack of physical activity
• abnormal cholesterol levels
• type 2 diabetes
• excess alcohol intake
• a history of stress and depression
• a history of heart disease.

So it’s in your corner, folks. You can prevent suffering a stroke with a great deal of assurance, but you have to control your unhealthy lifestyle choices.