Making changes to one’s habits to protect organs like the heart may go a long way in helping to prevent strokes.

By reducing the amount of dietary salt, as well as eating foods that limit bad cholesterol levels, Dr. Matthew Fink says that adults can reduce the likelihood of developing conditions that can lead to a stroke.

Other choices that may help include stopping smoking, because of its damage to blood cells and the increased chance of developing blood clots, as well as exercising to lose weight that may be causing the circulatory system to work harder, according to Fink, chief of the Division of Stroke and Critical Care Neurology at Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Some supplements may also limit the risks of developing a stroke, such as omega-3 fatty acids and other antioxidants.

Omega-3s, which are also found in several kinds of fatty fish, may help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as blood clotting according to the Mayo Clinic, many of the risk factors that are also connected to strokes.