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Stroke Risks

A stroke can result in permanent physical and mental damage, or even death. Risk factors for a stroke may be hereditary or unchangeable. Many risk factors are due to certain conditions and lifestyle choices that can be modified to reduce the risk of a stroke. Patients should consult with a doctor to discuss any risk factors and potential changes to decrease the chance of having a stroke.

  1. High Blood Pressure

    • According to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke in the United States. Healthy eating and exercise habits decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure. Some otherwise healthy individuals can develop high blood pressure due to hereditary factors or other unknown causes. A doctor may prescribe medication to help keep a patient's blood pressure within a normal range.

    High Cholesterol

    • High blood cholesterol puts people at an increased risk for stroke. According to the AHA, low levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol, in men may cause a higher stroke risk. The effect of low HDL levels on stroke risk in women is not verified.

    Poor Diet and Obesity

    • A poor diet rich in fatty foods and sodium increases the risk of a stroke. An unhealthy diet can contribute to high blood pressure and cholesterol. Additionally, high-fat and high-sodium diets are often high in calories as well, making obesity more likely and thus increasing a person's stroke risks. The AHA suggests that five servings of fruits or vegetables per day may reduce the risk of having a stroke.

    Diabetes

    • People with diabetes are at a higher risk of having a stroke. Many diabetic patients have high blood pressure and/or cholesterol and are overweight. Since these are risk factors on their own, it is especially important for diabetic patients to keep their blood pressure, cholesterol and weight within normal, healthy limits to reduce the risk of having a stroke.

    Heart Disease

    • Carotid artery disease poses a higher stroke risk. The carotid arteries in the neck supply the brain with blood. When the carotid arteries become narrowed due to fatty deposits and plaque buildup, they are more likely to become blocked and cause a stroke. Other types of heart disease, such as peripheral artery disease and coronary heart disease, also put patients at a higher risk of stroke.

    Tobacco/Alcohol/Drugs

    • Smoking damages the cardiovascular system in many ways and increases the chance for a blocked blood vessel that may cause a stroke. Women who take oral contraceptives are especially at risk. More than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and more than one for women increases the chance of stroke and people who use recreational drugs such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines are also at greater risk.

    Unchangeable Risk Factors

    • According to the AHA, the risk of having a stroke nearly doubles for each decade after age 55. Older people should take extra care to make any necessary lifestyle changes to reduce their stroke risk level. Though men are more likely to have a stroke than women are, more than half of all stroke deaths are women, according to the AHA. Family history of strokes increase a person's chance of having a stroke at some point in life, and African Americans are at a greater risk than Caucasians. People who have had previous strokes or transient ischemic attacks, where stroke symptoms appear and then dissipate without any apparent permanent damage, are also more likely to have a stroke.

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