High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke. Decreasing your blood pressure numbers by just a few points can lower your risk of stroke up to 40 percent.

People often don’t realize how at risk they are for a stroke. And because they don’t know, they can’t and don’t work on prevention. Don't be caught unaware — know your stroke risk.

With strokes effecting more than 800,000 people every year in the United States, it’s important to know five quick tips to prevent one from happening to you.