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Common Causes of Strokes

A stroke occurs when an artery leading to the brain becomes blocked, or when a blood vessel bursts and disrupts blood flow to the brain. When the brain does not get enough blood and oxygen, cells begin to die. Areas of the brain that control speech, movement or memory may become inactive. There are several potential causes of a stroke, some of which the patient can't control, but others a patient can take measures to prevent.

  1. High Blood Pressure

    • High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of a stroke, and when left untreated, it is a major risk factor. Also called hypertension, high blood pressure occurs when the heart needs to pump harder to cause blood to flow through the body. This causes damage to major organs and puts stress on blood vessels. When blood vessels weaken, they become thickened with increased blood pressure. Cholesterol is then more likely to break off the walls and block blood flow to the brain.

    Smoking

    • Smokers double their chances of having a stroke. Smokers have a reduced amount of oxygen in the blood so their blood is thicker and more likely to clot. Smoking is also believed to cause buildup in the carotid artery, the neck artery that supplies blood to the brain. These effects can cause blockage and prevent the brain from receiving a sufficient amount of blood and oxygen.

    Atrial Fibrillation

    • About 15 percent of patients who have strokes also have atrial fibrillation (AF). AF occurs when the heart's upper chambers beat quickly and unpredictably, thus causing the patient to have an irregular heartbeat. AF causes blood to pool in the heart, and this blood is at risk for forming clots and then carried to the brain.

    Diabetes

    • Patients who have diabetes are at higher risk for having a stroke. Although diabetes is not the direct cause of a stroke, diabetes patients are more likely to develop risk factors that can lead to a stroke. For instance, diabetes patients are more likely to have hypertension or high cholesterol. When "bad" cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL builds up in arteries, the arteries can become blocked and the brain won't receive the blood it needs.

    Carotid Artery Disease

    • Carotid artery disease occurs when the carotid arteries become narrowed from plaque buildups on the arteries' walls. These arteries are thus at higher risk for becoming blocked by a clot and preventing the brain from receiving blood.

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