While some risk factors for stroke cannot be controlled, others can be minimized through proper medication and/ or lifestyle changes. These modifiable risk factors include:
- High blood pressure
- high blood cholesterol
- cigarette smoking
- poor diet
- Physical inactivity and obesity
- Diabetes mellitus
- Artery disease
- Atrial fibrillation
- Heart disease
- Sickle cell disease (also called sickle cell anemia)
Stroke in the United States
- 700,000 strokes a year
- Third leading cause of death
- Number one cause of long-term disability
Stroke Risk Factors Non-modifiable:
Age - The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes.
Heredity (family history) and race - Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke. African-Americans have a much higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians. This is partly because of a higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Sex (gender) - Stroke is more common in men than in women. In most age groups, more men than women will have a stroke in a given year. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women. At all ages, more women than men die of stroke. Use of birth control pills and pregnancy pose special stroke risks for women.
Prior stroke, TIA or heart attack - If a patient has already had a stroke, there is an increased chance of having another within 5 years. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are “warning strokes” that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. TIAs are strong predictors of stroke. A person who has had one or more TIAs is almost ten times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn’t. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. A previous heart attack also increases stroke risk for patients.
Age - The chance of having a stroke approximately doubles for each decade of life after age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, a lot of people under 65 also have strokes.
Heredity (family history) and race - Your stroke risk is greater if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke. African-Americans have a much higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians. This is partly because of a higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
Sex (gender) - Stroke is more common in men than in women. In most age groups, more men than women will have a stroke in a given year. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women. At all ages, more women than men die of stroke. Use of birth control pills and pregnancy pose special stroke risks for women.
Prior stroke, TIA or heart attack - If a patient has already had a stroke, there is an increased chance of having another within 5 years. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are “warning strokes” that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. TIAs are strong predictors of stroke. A person who has had one or more TIAs is almost ten times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn’t. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke. A previous heart attack also increases stroke risk for patients.