A stroke is a serious event that can change your life forever - or end it entirely. Even if you survive a stroke with little or no loss of function, your risk of having another stroke increases greatly. Because of this, the best treatment is prevention. In many cases, a stroke can be completely prevented by following certain lifestyle changes to improve your health and overall well-being. These will generally also help to reduce your risk of heart disease, as well. For most people, the number one overall prevention strategy against stroke is to reduce, control or eliminate as many risk factors as possible.

People with multiple risk factors should speak with their doctors about being screened for carotid artery disease or other forms of peripheral arterial disease. The first level of screening is a simple physical examination in which the carotid artery is examined with a stethoscope for signs of plaque build-up in the artery. This build-up of plaque in an artery is called atherosclerosis. If the doctor hears an abnormal sound, which is called a carotid bruit, there is a higher chance of finding atherosclerosis or carotid artery disease - conditions that increase the risk of stroke. If these conditions are detected, they can be treated by a number of methods, including surgical intervention.

There are many strategies to help prevent a stroke and deal with the risk on a day to day basis. By following these strategies, you can reduce the risk of a stroke.