Stroke is the number 3 cause of death in the United States. This disease affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. The blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to the brain are either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this happens, that part of the brain is not getting the blood and oxygen that it needs, so it starts to die.
Some stroke risk factors are hereditary, some are a function of a natural process and others may result from a person’s lifestyle. You are not able to change those risk factors that are associated to hereditary or natural processes, but those that result from lifestyle or environment can be modified.
What are the risk factors that cannot be changed?
¨ Age—After the age of 55 the chance of having a stroke doubles for each decade of life.
¨ Hereditary and race—Your risk is going to be higher if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has experienced a stroke. African Americans also have a much higher risk.
¨ Gender—Stroke is more common in men than in women.
¨ Prior stroke or heart attack— For someone that has already had a stroke, the risk of having another becomes 10 times more likely.
What are the risk factors that can be changed, treated or controlled?
¨ High blood pressure—This risk factor is the leading cause of stoke but it is also the most important controllable risk factor of a stroke.
¨ Cigarette smoking—The nicotine and carbon monoxide is cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system increasing the risk of a stroke.
¨ Diabetes mellitus—Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk of stroke.
¨ Carotid or other artery disease
¨ Atrial fibrillation
¨ High blood cholesterol
¨ Poor diet—Diets high in saturated fats, trans fat and cholesterol can raise the blood cholesterol levels. Also, diets high in sodium can increase blood pressure, elevating the risk.
¨ Physical inactivity and obesity—Being inactive can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Source: www.strokeassociation.org
