New evidence released this week showed that daily aspirin can reduce the risk of stroke in women - although high doses were found to actually increase the risk.

BBC: Regular painkiller use linked to cancer

Doctors recommend stopping smoking, limiting alcohol intake, lowering cholesterol and saturated fat intake and increasing physical activity to reduce the risk of stroke.

CNN: Vitamin E may reduce risk of stroke

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the anti-clotting drug Xarelto rivaroxaban to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have abnormal heart rhythm non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

FORBES: FDA Approves Xarelto

Xarelto is already FDA-approved to reduce the risk of DVTs and PEs from occurring after knee or hip replacement surgery (July 2011), and to reduce the risk of stroke in people who have a type of abnormal heart rhythm called non-valvular atrial fibrillation (November 2011).

FORBES: Rivaroxaban Gains FDA Indications For The Treatment And Prevention Of DVT And PE

Also, certain medicines, such as proton pump inhibitors Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole), reduce the effect of clopidogrel, leaving a person at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

FORBES: FDA Approves Generic Clopidogrels As Plavix Loses Patent Protection