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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

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