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Stroke Prevention

stroke prevention, stroke risk factors

The good news is, you can reduce your risk of stroke by changing factors that you can influence. Listed below are risk factors that you can and cannot influence.

Stroke risk factors you can control.

  • High blood pressure – or hypertension, is a leading cause of stroke and the most significant controllable risk factor. Controlling blood pressure is achieved through medication, diet, and exercise.
  • High cholesterol – large amounts of cholesterol in your blood can build up and cause blood clots which lead to stroke. Eating a diet low in cholesterol or taking medication prescribed by a physician can help lower cholesterol levels.
  • Smoking – nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system which can lead to stroke. Quitting smoking, or never starting, will greatly lower your risk of stroke. 
  • Drinking alcohol – drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to stroke. Limit alcohol consumption to no more than two alcoholic beverages per day.
  • Obesity – obesity greatly increases risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Losing weight can make a significant difference in your risk of having a stroke.
  • Diabetes –  people with diabetes should monitor and control their blood sugar. While diabetes is treatable, many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and are overweight.
  • Atrial Fibrillation – AFib (a heart rhythm disorder) increases stroke risks tremendously. This disorder causes the heart's upper chambers to beat incorrectly, which can allow the blood to pool and develop a clot. The clot can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.
  • Physical inactivity – lack of exercise or inactivity can cause stroke, heart disease, overweight/obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes. Exercise regularly at least 150 minutes a week.

Stroke risk factors you cannot control.

  • Age – the likelihood of having a stroke increases with age, most common among 65 years of age or older.
  • Gender – women have more strokes than men.
  • Race – African-Americans have a much higher risk of death from a stroke than Caucasians do.
  • Family history – if your parent, grandparent or sibling has had a stroke, you may be at greater risk due to genetic disorders.
  • Prior stroke, mini-stroke (TIA), or heart attack – a person who has had a prior stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA or mini-stroke), or a heart attack has a much higher risk of having another stroke.