Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the number 1 risk factor for stroke. High blood pressure is very frequent, usually running in families, and it's a problem we can do something about. It can be easily detected.

Alcohol
We have all probably heard some good things and bad things about alcohol. Let's start with the good news. It appears that if you drink a little bit-or mild to moderate, you can actually reduce your risk of stroke. The bad news is that heavy alcohol use increases the risk of stroke. The more you drink, the higher the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Cholesterol
Elevated levels of HDL, the good cholesterol, can reduce your risk of heart attach and stroke. The other type of cholesterol, LDL, is the kind that actually can build up in arteries, and increases the risk of heart attack.