According to research published in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, women who lead healthier lifestyles are 71 percent less likely to suffer from the most common form of stroke, ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes result from the blockage of arteries that supply blood to the brain and often lead to permanent disability as well as death. In the study, researchers identified those healthy habits that reduce the likelihood of suffering from ischemic stroke which include: abstinence from smoking, alcohol consumption in moderation, regular exercise, maintenance of a healthy bodyweight and consumption of a healthy, nutritious diet. With approximately a quarter of the 700,000 strokes occurring each year resulting in death and another quarter resulting in permanent disability, the importance of implementing these and other healthy lifestyle habits is nothing less than the difference between life and death.