Causes of Stroke

There are many risk factors associated with stroke. Risk factors are habits or traits that can increase the likelihood of acquiring a disease.

Prevention of stroke is one of the best approaches to take.

Stroke risk factors tend to mirror those of Coronary Heart Disease

Risk Factors (That Can Be Changed)

• High Blood Cholesterol (240 mg/dL or higher)
• HDL Cholesterol (l40 mg/dL or lower) 
• LDL Cholesterol: (>100 mg/dL or higher)
• Smoking
• Hypertension (140/90 bpm or higher)
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Diabetes (fasting plasma glucose blood sugar of 126 mg/dL)
• Excessive alcohol

The above risk factors all highlight the important role that lifestyle plays in the prevention of strokes and other related diseases.

Risk Factors (That Cannot Be Changed)

Image Source: http://www.musc.edu/

• Age
• Gender, strokes are more common in men than in women
• Family History/Race, strokes are more likely to ocurr if a family member has had a stroke. African Americans also have a higher risk of death from a stroke .
• Prior Stroke or Heart Attack, more likely for strokes to occur again.

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