The good news is that you don't have to move around much to make an impact.
Studies show that even about 25 minutes of moderate activity each day helps decrease a person's stroke risk. No need to run a marathon.
One study of more than 61,000 California teachers (all women) showed that those who got at least 150 minutes of exercise each week were 30% less likely to have an ischemic stroke than those who were less active. That translates to just 21 minutes per day.
Evidence also suggests that the simple act of going for a walk every day can make a stroke milder if a person does have one. A 2018 study of Norwegian people in their 70s found that those who walked and swam on a regular basis had less severe strokes than Norwegians who don't move around much.
In addition to keeping our blood vessels pumping swiftly, exercise can create more oxygen-rich blood and prompt our muscles to grow more blood vessels. Conversely, not moving around can put people at risk for developing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, which in turn can make strokes more likely.