Stroke prevention tips: 3 things to avoid after meals and 4 before bedtime

Suffering a stroke can have devastating, life-changing consequences.

But the good news is that most strokes can actually be prevented.

What is a stroke

Each year in the U.S., about 795,000 people suffer a stroke. Roughly 1 in 10 of those cases involve bleeding in the brain.

A stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly blocked.

This can affect your movement, speech, or memory — and recovery can take a long time. It’s a serious emergency that requires immediate hospital treatment, as it can be life-threatening.

According to the CDC, stroke symptoms usually come on suddenly and include:

Facial weakness – one side of the face may droop or you might not be able to smile properly.

Arm weakness – one arm might feel heavy, weak, or difficult to lift.