Stroke Risk Factors
The best way to prevent a stroke is to identify what factors increase your risk and work to eliminate them, if possible. There are three types of risk factors:
Uncontrollable Stroke Risk Factors:
- Age - Strokes can occur at any age, but two-thirds of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65
- Gender - The incidence of stroke is slightly higher for women
- Race - African Americans and Hispanics have a greater risk for stroke than other races
- Family History - People who have a parent or sibling who has had a stroke are at a greater risk
- Personal History of Diabetes – Having diabetes triples a person’s risk for having a stroke
Controllable Stroke Risk Factors:
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart Disease
- Atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat
- High Cholesterol
- Previous Stroke or TIA
- Smoking
- Excessive Alcohol Intake
- Excess Weight
- Lack of Exercise
- Illicit Drug Use - amphetamines, cocaine
- Carotid Stenosis - The carotid arteries on either side of the neck can collect plaque and interrupt blood flow to the brain
Other Stroke Risk Factors:
- Blood Abnormalities - Sickle Cell, Leukemia, High Homocysteine, Polycythemia and others
- Infectious Diseases - TB, Syphilis, Endocarditis, HIV and others
- Inflammatory Diseases - Lupus, Vasculitis
- High-dose Estrogen - especially with cigarette smoking, hypertension and migraine
- Sleep Apnea – Patients who snore may have an increased risk for future strokes and heart attacks