We can’t predict the timeline for when a stroke may affect a particular person. But we can definitely spread awareness about risk factors.

Knowledge is Power: Stroke Risk Factors



We can’t predict the timeline for when a stroke
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/what-are-the-different-types-of-stroke] may
affect a particular person. But we can definitely spread awareness about risk
factors that are likely to increase the chances of having a stroke. When you
have more knowledge about these risk factors, you can determine which ones may
be the most relevant to you. You can take charge of the treatable risk factors,
and you can be prepared with what signs to look for when a stroke is happening.
Above all else, if you or someone you know starts to show signs of a stroke,
know that a stroke is a medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital in
order to save brain cells and save a life.

Let’s talk about stroke risk factors that none of us can control. Though you
can’t erase these factors from potentially impacting your life, you can use your
increased awareness to empower yourself and be prepared in case stroke symptoms
do make an appearance in your life.

Genetics
Families pass down certain traits through the generations, and we inherit genes
that may make us more prone to certain diseases. Also, it is likely that family
members may adopt similar habits and routines as those who came before them,
which may include things like inactivity or smoking. If someone in your family
has had a stroke, it makes it more likely that you could have one, too -
especially if that person is your sibling, parent, or grandparent.



Age
The older we get, the greater our chance of having a stroke. In fact, the chance
of stroke doubles every 10 years past age 55. But remember, people much younger
can have strokes, too - including babies.

Sex
Women tend to have more strokes than men, and face more deadly responses to
having a stroke. They also tend to have strokes when they are older, which may
be related to women generally living longer than men. Some of the gender
discrepancy may also be related to hormonal factors that only women face:
pregnancy, hormonal birth control, and hormonal supplements for menopause.



Race/ethnicity
Populations with a higher risk include: African Americans, Hispanics and
Latinos, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives; their risk is higher than those
in non-Hispanic Caucasian and Asian populations.

Prior TIA, stroke, or heart attack
A TIA (transient ischemic attack) is a warning sign for an upcoming stroke, and
should be taken seriously: you are 10 times more likely to have a full stroke
after experiencing a TIA. After having one stroke, you are also more likely to
experience another one in your lifetime. If you have had a heart attack, the
buildup and clogging of the arteries that caused it can also cause you to have a
“brain attack” (a stroke).

Now that we’ve gotten those out of the way, let’s talk about the risk factors
that you can take charge of. Talk to your doctor about your own personal health
profile, so that you know which factors affect you. Once your doctor helps you
to come up with a good plan for medications, diet, exercise, and/or smoking
cessation, stick with the plan as carefully as you can. Remember that we don’t
have a say over some risk factors, so the ones we can treat and manage are that
much more critical. See related posts for healthy lifestyle tips that you can
use while you navigate managing your risk factors.

High blood pressure
Hypertension (chronically high blood pressure) can result in too much force on
the walls of your arteries. Over time, this pressure can cause hardening,
thickening, and damage to the blood vessels, which can lead to a stroke (or a
heart attack). Often, hypertension goes hand in hand with other risk factors
that can also be controlled, such as diet and exercise. Luckily, high blood
pressure is easy to detect, and relatively easy to control with medications and
some lifestyle updates such as healthier diet and more exercise.



High blood cholesterol
When cholesterol is out of control (hyperlipidemia), it can build up and clog
arteries with fatty deposits. As the blood vessels start to get clogged up, the
blood can no longer flow freely and it gets blocked on its way to the brain and
heart. Pieces of the fatty deposits can also break free and form clots which
more quickly block off blood flow and can result in a stroke. Again, high
cholesterol also goes hand in hand with other risk factors that can be managed,
such as diet and exercise. Medications can also help manage high cholesterol.

Uncontrolled diabetes
Having type I or type II diabetes greatly increases your chances of having heart
disease or stroke, especially as you get older (65 and up). Diabetes is another
contributing factor to blood vessel disease, which can lead to stroke (or heart
problems). Often there are other risk factors that go with type II diabetes
(such as inactivity, poor dietary habits, and high blood pressure and
cholesterol), making it even more important to take charge of these factors.
Make sure to check your blood sugar regularly, and take medications consistently
as prescribed.

Poor dietary habits
Eating too much of certain types of foods
[https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/is-there-a-good-diet-for-stroke] can increase
your overall risk of stroke by impacting some of the other risk factors
mentioned above. Foods with a lot of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol
can increase your cholesterol levels. These include foods like: fatty beef, dark
meat chicken, butter, fast food, crackers, cookies, lard, and shortening. Foods
with a lot of sodium can increase your blood pressure. Some examples of these
foods are: smoked meats, bacon, and canned entrees. Foods high in calories can
increase obesity, which also contributes to other risk factors (diabetes, high
blood pressure, and high cholesterol). Some examples of these foods are: sugary
drinks, pizza, white bread, and pastries.



Inactivity
Being more sedentary or less active is linked to increased blood pressure,
cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. As we know, all of those factors increase
the overall risk of stroke. Moderate-intensity activity levels can reduce your
risk of stroke, and you don’t have to worry about starting a brand new,
intensive plan. One way to get started (especially if you are mostly sedentary
throughout your day) is to stand up more and sit less during the day. Some
examples of moderate activity can be as simple as gardening, bicycling less than
10 miles an hour, walking briskly, and doing water aerobics.

Smoking
Cigarette smoking damages the heart and blood vessels, which increases your
chance of stroke. The nicotine in cigarettes increases your blood pressure,
which puts more wear and tear on your blood vessels; the carbon monoxide from
the smoke interferes with the amount of oxygen your blood carries to your organs
and hardens the vessel walls. After only a year of being smoke-free, you are on
your way to reducing your risk of heart disease (which impacts stroke risk) by
50%!



Heavy alcohol use
Drinking many alcoholic beverages daily increases your blood pressure and can
harden your blood vessels - and you now know that all of these things contribute
to an increased risk of stroke. General recommendations for alcohol limits are:
1 drink for women, and 2 drinks for men per day.



Check out other posts about healthy lifestyle tips to help you on your journey
in preventing and treating stroke.

References:

mayoclinic.org
stroke.org
heart.org
cdc.gov

All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or
treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health
provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you
think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Reliance on any information provided by the NEOFECT website is solely at your
own risk.