After months of snowy weather, it is now spring-like in many regions of Germany, although the nights remain fresh. Such a change in the weather also places stress on the body.

How Studies have shown that rapid weather changes can influence the risk of stroke. With a drop in temperature of 2.9 degrees Celsius within one day, the risk of stroke increases by 11 percent; with an increase of 5 degrees Celsius, the risk drops by up to 47 percent.

Martin Halle knows how you can minimize your risk of stroke. He is medical director of the Center for Prevention and Sports Medicine at the Technical University of Munich. In an interview with FOCUS online, Halle names six measures you can take to protect your blood vessels. This not only prevents a stroke in the brain, but also protects all other organs.

1. Eat colorfully

There are substances that make tomatoes red, eggplants purple and apples green. The so-called polyphenols give fruits and vegetables their color. They exert a protective mechanism on our cells, explains vascular doctor Martin Halle. He recommends putting together dishes from as many different types of vegetables as possible to ensure a colorful mix on the plate.

Therefore, choose unsaturated fatty acids from olive oil, rapeseed oil or sunflower oil rather than products such as butter or lard that contain saturated fatty acids. Fish, legumes and whole grain products also contain unsaturated fatty acids.

3. Maintain a normal weight

Fatty tissue secretes inflammatory substances into the blood. These can attack the inner layer of the vessels. It is therefore important to maintain a healthy weight. You can find out whether your body mass index is within the normal range using this calculator:

4. Exercise

Sport ensures elastic vessels. The increased pulse rate dilates the vessels for a short time. This sets off chemical processes that repair broken cells in the vessel wall. Sport not only prevents injured vessels, but can also heal them.

Martin Halle recommends two walks per day or an intensive exercise session lasting seven to ten minutes, as long as you work up a sweat.

5. Quit smoking

When nicotine enters our body, the blood vessels contract. This happens with just one cigarette, warns vascular expert Martin Halle. Certain parts of the body then no longer receive proper blood flow.

Once the cigarette is smoked, the blood vessels expand again, but nicotine still causes long-term damage. It attacks the inner layer of the vessels, causing holes and scars.

6. Watch your blood pressure

With high blood pressure, the blood is pumped against the vessel walls at increased pressure. Over time this can cause them to tear. Therefore, check your blood pressure with a measuring device and talk to your doctor about antihypertensive medications if you suffer from persistently high blood pressure.