Together We Can Prevent Stroke

Having a stroke puts you at higher risk for a second one. Take small steps to defeat stroke.

Prevent a Second Stroke

1 in 4 stroke survivors will have another stroke. A large majority of strokes can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes such as moving more, healthy eating, managing blood pressure, getting healthy sleep, and quitting smoking and vaping. Talk to your doctor about managing your stroke risk factors to help prevent a stroke.

Secondary Stroke Prevention

Learn about the new guideline released by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for prevention of stroke in patients with previous stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Schedule time with your doctor to better understand the steps you can take to reduce your chance of another ischemic stroke.
Read the Key Messages for Patients

Talk to your doctor about a prevention plan that could include:

 
Managing High Blood Pressure
Controlling Cholesterol
Manage Blood Glucose
Being Active
Eating Better
Losing Weight
Quit Smoking/Tobacco/Vaping

 
Take prescribed medications and check with your doctor before making any changes.

Resources for Preventing Another Stroke

Stroke is an EMERGENCY. Call 911 if these signs are present.

Hover—or click if you’re on your mobile—on the F.A.S.T. tiles.
Letter F
[F = FACE DROOPING] Does one side of the face droop, or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
letter A
[A = ARM WEAKNESS] Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
letter S
[S = SPEECH] Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue."
Letter t
[T = TIME TO CALL 911] If you have any of these symptoms or see someone else having them, call 911 immediately!
Learn and share the warning signs and symptoms of stroke
Olympian Michael Johnson shares his stroke survivor journey.

Together to End Stroke Anthem
This video brings awareness to the American Stroke Association’s consumer initiative Together to End Stroke which aims to educate consumers that stroke is largely preventable, treatable and beatable.

A selfie of stroke survivor, Laura Sammons, and her husband at the beach

Survivor Story: Laura Sammons

What started for Laura Sammons and her family in 2017 as a routine weekend drive in the Houston area took a treacherous turn. As she approached an intersection with a stoplight, she blanked out and had no idea how to drive.

Sammons was having a stroke. A year and a half before this, she had experienced a transient ischemic attack, or TIA,— also known as a “warning stroke.”

Read Laura’s story

HCA Healthcare Foundation logoThe HCA Healthcare Foundation is the national sponsor of Getting to the Heart of Stroke™