Stroke risk factors
Preventing stroke; Stroke - prevention; CVA - prevention; TIA - preventionA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain suddenly stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack or cerebrovascular accident." If blood flow is cut off for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get nutrients and oxygen. Brain cells can die, causing lasting damage.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleRisk factors are things that increase your chance of getting a disease or condition. This article discusses the risk factors for stroke and things you can do to lessen your risk.
What is a Risk Factor?
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or health problem. Some risk factors for stroke you cannot change. Some you can. Changing the risk factors that you have control over will help you live a longer, healthier life.
Risk Factors you Cannot Change
You cannot change these stroke risk factors:
- Your age. The risk of stroke goes up with age.
- Your sex. Men have a higher risk of getting heart disease and stroke than women, except in older adults.
- Your genes and race. If your parents had a stroke, you are at higher risk. African Americans, Mexican Americans, American Indians, Hawaiians, and some Asian Americans also have a higher risk. Also, some families pass on traits that make them more likely to have blood clots.
- Diseases such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, autoimmune diseases, and some types of arthritis.
- Prior stroke. If you have already had one or more strokes or transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) you are at greater risk of having another stroke.
- Weak areas in an artery wall or abnormal arteries and veins.
Weak areas in an artery wall
An aneurysm is a weak area in the wall of a blood vessel that causes the blood vessel to bulge or balloon out. When an aneurysm occurs in a blood ve...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleAbnormal arteries and veins
A cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain that usually forms before birth....
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Pregnancy. Both during and in the weeks right after the pregnancy.
Blood clots from the heart may travel to and block the blood vessels in the brain and cause a stroke. This may happen in people with manmade or infected heart valves. It may also happen because of a heart defect you were born with.
A very weak heart and abnormal heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, can also cause blood clots.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleRisk Factors you can Change
Some risk factors for stroke that you can change are:
- Not smoking. If you do smoke, quit. Ask your health care provider for help quitting.
Help quitting
There are many ways to quit smoking. There are also resources to help you. Family members, friends, and co-workers may be supportive. But to be su...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Controlling your blood cholesterol and lipids (fats) through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed.
Controlling your blood cholesterol
Your body needs cholesterol to work well. But cholesterol levels that are too high can harm you. In the US, blood cholesterol is most often measured...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleMedicines
Your body needs cholesterol to work properly. But extra cholesterol in your blood causes deposits to build up on the inside walls of your blood vess...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Controlling high blood pressure through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed. Ask your provider what your blood pressure should be.
Controlling high blood pressure
Hypertension is another term used to describe high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to: StrokeHeart attackHeart failureKidney diseaseEar...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Controlling diabetes through diet, exercise, and medicines, if needed.
Exercise
Exercise is an important part of managing your diabetes. If you are obese or overweight, exercise can help you manage your weight.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Exercising at least 30 minutes every day.
- Maintaining a healthy weight. Eat healthy foods, eat less, and join a weight loss program, if you need to lose weight.
- Limiting how much alcohol you drink. Women should have no more than 1 drink a day, and men no more than 2 a day.
- Not using cocaine and other recreational drugs.
Recreational drugs
Substance use disorder occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (prescribed medicine or illegal drug) leads to health issues or pro...
Read Article Now Book Mark Article - Seeking medical care for problems that increase risk of stroke, such as atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea.
Birth control pills (particularly those with higher estrogen content) can raise your risk of blood clots. Clots are more likely in women who also smoke and who are older than 35. Talk with your provider about other birth control options that do not increase the risk of blood clots.
Good nutrition is important to your heart health. It will help control some of your risk factors.
Good nutrition
A healthy diet is an important factor in reducing your risk for heart disease.
Read Article Now Book Mark Article- Choose a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Choose lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, beans, and legumes.
- Choose low-fat dairy products, such as 1% milk and other low-fat items.
- Avoid sodium (salt) and fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.
- Eat fewer animal products and fewer foods with cheese, cream, or eggs.
- Read food labels. Stay away from saturated fat and anything with partially-hydrogenated or hydrogenated fats. These are unhealthy fats.
Your provider may suggest taking aspirin or another blood thinner to help prevent blood clots from forming. Do not take aspirin without talking to your doctor first. If you are taking these medicines, take steps to prevent yourself from falling or tripping, which can lead to bleeding.
Prevent yourself from falling or trippi...
Older adults and people with medical problems are at risk of falling or tripping. This can result in broken bones or more serious injuries. Use the ...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleFollow these guidelines and the advice of your provider to lower your chances of stroke.
References
American Diabetes Association website. Standards of medical care in diabetes - 2023. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Suppl 1):S1-S284. diabetesjournals.org/care/issue/46/Supplement_1.
Biller J, Schneck MJ, Ruland S. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 65.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Risk factors for stroke. www.cdc.gov/stroke/risk-factors/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/risk_factors.htm. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024.
- Stroke(Alt. Medicine)
- Stroke - InDepth(In-Depth)
Review Date: 1/23/2023
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.