Learning About Risk Factors for Stroke

What puts you at risk for stroke?

Your chances of having a stroke depend on your risk factors. Some risks can be lowered with treatment and a healthy lifestyle. Others can't.

This list includes some of the risk factors for having a stroke. You and your doctor can discuss your risk and how to lower it.

Risk factors you can control with treatment

• Atrial fibrillation. This type of irregular heartbeat increases the risk of blood clots that could cause a stroke.
• Atherosclerosis. Also called hardening of the arteries, this happens when fatty deposits build up inside arteries. It can cause conditions such as carotid artery disease or coronary artery disease.
• Diabetes. Diabetes results in high blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to hardening of the arteries.
• High blood pressure. Over time, this damages the walls of the arteries which can lead to hardening of the arteries.
• High cholesterol. This can lead to the buildup of fatty deposits in artery walls.
• Other health problems. There are many problems that raise the risk of blood clots that could cause a stroke. These include sickle cell disease and blood clotting problems.

Risk factors you can control with a heart-healthy lifestyle

• Smoking. Smoking, or even inhaling secondhand smoke, increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Being overweight. This makes it more likely that you'll develop high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes. These conditions make a stroke more likely.
• Drinking too much alcohol. This means more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.
• Not getting enough physical activity. If you aren't active, you have a higher risk of health conditions that make a stroke more likely.
• Not eating a heart-healthy diet. Heart-healthy eating includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, lean meat, fish, and whole grains. You limit things like sodium, alcohol, and sugar.

Risk factors you can't control

• Having had a previous stroke or TIA (transient ischemic attack).
• Having a family history of stroke. Your chances of having a stroke are higher if other people in your family have had one.
• Being older. The risk of stroke goes up as you age.
• Being African American, Alaskan Native, Native American, or South Asian American.
• Being female. Women have a higher risk of stroke than men.
• Having certain problems during pregnancy. These include gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
• Being past menopause.