Risk Factors for Stroke

Strokes, or “brain attacks,” are scary—but often preventable! Knowing your risk factors can help you take steps to ensure that a stroke doesn’t happen to you.  In America, one out of every 16 deaths is caused by stroke, yet up to 80 percent of those could have been prevented! While anyone can have a stroke, a variety of factors can increase that risk. Some risk factors are uncontrollable, such as your age and gender. After the age of 55, stroke risk doubles for every decade. Additionally, men are more likely to suffer from strokes. A family history of stroke means that you have a higher risk of having one yourself.  In addition, if you’ve already suffered from a stroke or a transient ischemic attack, which is a reversible loss of neurological function, you have a 40 percent greater risk of having another stroke within 5 years. Another uncontrollable risk factor is race. African-Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians to suffer from strokes. Although no one is sure why, higher rates of hypertension, sickle cell anemia, and diabetes are all possible causes.  In fact, diabetics are 2 to 4 times more likely to have a stroke than people without this disease. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the two upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly, and often, rapidly. This allows blood to pool in the heart, leading to clots. The condition increases the risk of a stroke six-fold because these clots can break off and be carried to the blood vessels in the brain. Many stroke risk factors, however, ARE controllable. Having high blood pressure, which is defined as a reading of 140 over 90 or greater, increases stroke risk by 4 to 6 times. High blood pressure makes the heart pump harder. People with high blood pressure often have constricted arteries that make it harder to move blood through the body. This can lead to weakened blood vessels and, eventually, to hemorrhagic stroke. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance in the body that is made internally and is also found in the foods we eat. Some cholesterol is necessary for basic body functioning, but when levels rise above 200 milligrams per deciliter, which can lead to a stroke-causing blockage. People who are overweight are also stroke-candidates, because obesity can lead to hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes. Poor Lifestyle choices, too, can also increase stroke risk. Because smoking damages blood vessel walls, speeds up the clogging of arteries and raises blood pressure, smokers have double the risk of stroke.  Women who drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day, and men who consume more than two, also have increased storke risk.  While the risk-factors can seem overwhelming, becoming aware of them and taking steps to get healthier can reduce your risk of a potentially life-threatening stroke. Please see your doctor if you have any of these risk factors for a stroke.