A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is inturrupted or severely reduced and brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Within a few minutes to a few hours, brain cells can begin to die.
This is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment could mean the difference between life and death. Early treatment can also minimize damage to your brain and potential disability.
In the Untied States, stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability; only heart disease and cancer cause more deaths annually. Every year about 700,000 American experience a stroke, about 160,000 of these people die.
Many factors can increase your risk of a stroke. A number of these factors can also increase your chances of having a heart attack. They include:
Family History Your risk of stroke is slightly higher if one of your parents or if a brother or sister had a stroke or TIA.
Age Your risk of stroke increases as you get older.
Race African Americans are at greater risk of stroke than are people of other races. This is partly due to a higher prevalence of high blood pressure and diabetes.
High blood pressure (hypertension) High blood pressure is a risk factor for both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. It can weaken and damage blood vessels in and around your brain, leaving them vulnerable to atherosclerosis and hemorrhage.
Undesirable levels of blood cholesterol High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, may increase your risk of atherosclerosis. In excess, LDLs and other materials build up on the lining of artery walls, where they may harden into plaques. High levels of triglycerides, another blood fat, also may increase your atherosclerosis risk. In contrast, high levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, reduce your risk of atherosclerosis by escorting cholesterol out of your body through the liver.
Cigarette smoking Smokers have a much higher risk of stroke than do nonsmokers. Smoking contributes to plaques in your arteries. Nicotine makes your heart work harder by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces oxygen in your blood, decreasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the walls of your arteries and your tissues, including the tissues in your brain.
Diabetes Diabetes is a major risk factor for stroke. When you have diabetes, your body not only can’t handle sugar appropriately but also can’t process fats efficiently, and you’re at greater risk of high blood pressure. These diabetes-related effects increase your risk of developing atherosclerosis. Diabetes also interferes with your body’s ability to break down blood clots, increasing your risk of ischemic stroke.
Obesity Being overweight increases your chance of developing high blood pressure, heart disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes — all of which increase stroke risk.
Cardiovascular disease Several cardiovascular diseases can increase your risk of a stroke, including congestive heart failure, a previous heart attack, an infection of a heart valve (endocarditis), a particular type of abnormal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), aortic or mitral valve disease, valve replacement, or a hole in the upper chambers of the heart known as patent foramen ovale. Atrial fibrillation is the most common condition associated with strokes caused by embolic clots. In addition, atherosclerosis in blood vessels near your heart may indicate that you have atherosclerosis in other blood vessels — including those in and around your brain.
Previous stroke or TIA If you’ve already had a stroke, your risk of having another one increases. In addition, people who have had a TIA are nine times as likely to have a stroke as are those who haven’t had a TIA.
Elevated homosysteine levels This amino acid, a building block of proteins, occurs naturally in your blood. But people with elevated levels of homocysteine have a higher risk of heart and blood vessel damage.
Use of birth control pills The risk of stroke is higher among women who take birth control pills, especially among smokers and women older than 35. However, today’s low-dose pills carry a much lower risk than their earlier counterparts. Other factors that can increase your risk of stroke include heavy or binge drinking, the use of illicit drugs such as cocaine, and uncontrolled stress.
Links
American Stroke Association – The American Stroke Association website is a great place to learn more about stroke, how to prevent it, and life after a stroke.
Start With Your Heart – This is a great tool to use if you want to learn how to protect yourself againts heart attack and stroke.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – For more information about stroke visit this site.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – The CDC is a great place to find reliable information regarding stroke.
National Institute Of Neurological Disorders And Stroke – To learn more about stroke you can use this site and it provides other sources of information as well.