Stroke

A risk factor is anything that makes you more likely to have a particular health problem. Risk factors for stroke that you can treat or change include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension).
• Atrial fibrillation.
• Diabetes.
• Smoking.
• High cholesterol.
• Reference Heavy use of alcohol Opens New Window.
• Being overweight.
• Physical inactivity.

Risk factors you cannot change include:

• Age. The risk of stroke increases with age.
• Race. African Americans, Native Americans, and Alaskan Natives have a higher risk than those of other races.
• Gender. Stroke is more common in men than women until age 75, when more women than men have strokes. Because women live longer than men, more women have strokes each year.
• Family history. The risk for stroke is greater if a parent, brother, or sister has had a stroke or Reference transient ischemic attack Opens New Window (TIA).
• History of stroke or TIA.

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