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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Many factors can increase your risk of a stroke. A number of these factors can also increase your chances of having a heart attack. Stroke risk factors include:

Potentially treatable risk factors

  • High blood pressure — risk of stroke begins to increase at blood pressure readings higher than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Your doctor will help you decide on a target blood pressure based on your age, whether you have diabetes and other factors.
  • Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
  • High cholesterol — a total cholesterol level above 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
  • Diabetes.
  • Being overweight or obese.
  • Physical inactivity.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea (a sleep disorder in which the oxygen level intermittently drops during the night).
  • Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm.
  • Use of some birth control pills or hormone therapies that include estrogen.
  • Heavy or binge drinking.
  • Use of illicit drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines.

Other risk factors

  • Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or TIA.
  • Being age 55 or older.
  • Race — African-Americans have higher risk of stroke than people of other races.
  • Gender — Men have a higher risk of stroke than women. Women are usually older when they have strokes, and they are more likely to die of strokes than men.
Complications Causes
References
  1. Stroke: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  2. Oliveira-Filho J. Initial assessment and management of acute stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  3. Know stroke brochure. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://stroke.nih.gov/materials/actintime.htm. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  4. Roger V, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics - 2012 update: A report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2012;125:e2.
  5. Warning signs of a stroke. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SYMP. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  6. Caplan LR. Overview of the evaluation of stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  7. Caplan LR. Etiology and classification of stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 13, 2012.
  8. Ischemic stroke (clots). American Stroke Association. http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/AboutStroke/TypesofStroke/IschemicClots/Ischemic-Strokes-Clots_UCM_310939_Article.jsp. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  9. Cerebral aneurysms fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_aneurysm/cerebral_aneurysms.htm. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  10. Furie KL, et al. Etiology and clinical manifestations of transient ischemic attack. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  11. Effects of stroke. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=EFFECT. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  12. Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm?css=print. Accessed May 7, 2012.
  13. What is echocardiography? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/echo/. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  14. Samuels OB. Intravenous fibrinolytic (thrombolytic) therapy in acute ischemic stroke: Therapeutic use. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  15. Oliveira-Filho J. Reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  16. Cucchiara BL, et al. Antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention of stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  17. Questions and answers about carotid endarterectomy. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/carotid_endarterectomy_backgrounder.htm. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  18. Mohler ER, et al. Carotid endarterectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  19. Greelish JP, et al. Carotid artery stenting and its complications. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  20. Rordorf G, et al. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Prognosis and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  21. Arteriovenous malformations and other vascular lesions of the central nervous system fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/avms/avms.htm. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  22. Recovery and rehabilitation. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=REHABT. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  23. Recovery after stroke — Coping with emotions. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Recov_factsheets. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  24. Recovery after stroke — Social support. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Recov_factsheets. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  25. Recovery after stroke — Thinking and cognition. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Recov_factsheets. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  26. Controllable risk factors — High blood pressure (hypertension). National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Recov_factsheets. Accessed April 27, 2012.
  27. STARS — Steps against recurrent stroke. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=STARS. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  28. Physical activity and healthy diet. National Stroke Association. http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=eathealthy. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  29. Furie KL. Secondary prevention of stroke: Risk factor reduction. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  30. Oliveira-Filho J, et al. Antithrombotic treatment of acute ischemic stroke. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 15, 2012.
  31. Brown RD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. June 10, 2012.
DS00150 July 3, 2012

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