Stroke Risk Factors
Stroke is dangerous and deadly — the No. 5 killer and a leading cause of disability in America. But you can control and treat several risk factors for stroke.
Risk Factors
Stroke Risk Factors You Can Control, Treat and Improve
Keep your stroke risks low with regular checkups and treatment for these conditions if you have them.
Stroke Risk Factors That Are Not Within Your Control
You can't control some risk factors, but knowing that they exist may help motivate you to work harder on the ones you can change.
Additional Factors That May Be Linked to Higher Stroke Risks
Whether your risks are related to changeable factors or are primarily outside of your control, you can benefit your heart and your brain with healthy lifestyle choices.
Managing Risky Conditions
Atherosclerosis
Atrial Fibrillation
High Blood Pressure
Social Determinants of Health and Risk Factors
The Urgent Need for Health Equity
Everyone has an optimal, just opportunity to be healthy. But this is not the reality for many people of color and others whose health suffers because of social factors beyond their control. People suffer when they lack access to quality care, nutritious food and other basic health needs
Mounting 'social determinants' could magnify stroke risk
The cumulative effect of several social factors can more than double the risk of stroke in people under 75, according to new research that examined the impact of living in a poor or rural area, having low education or income level, lacking health insurance or being Black.
Environment, culture, other social determinants play big role in heart health
Social determinants of health are factors that influence where and how people live, learn, work and play. They provide context to a person's life and can play just as big of a role in affecting health as medications and physical lifestyle changes.
Stroke patients more likely to die in rural hospitals than in urban ones
Compared with stroke patients living in cities, researchers found those treated at rural hospitals were about half as likely to receive clot-busting medication; about one-third less likely to undergo a thrombectomy procedure to remove a stroke-causing clot; and more likely to die of any type of stroke before leaving the hospital (6.9% versus 5.8%).Celebrate the Men in Your Life
Nearly 50% of all adult men have high blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure regularly to help reduce your risk of stroke.
Diabetes and Stroke
It’s important to understand the connection between diabetes and stroke, recognize the risk factors and take steps to stay healthy.
Uncommon Causes of Stroke
Most strokes are caused by conditions such as atrial fibrillation, hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure. But there are less common causes as well.
Women face higher risk of stroke
Stroke in U.S. Women by the Numbers
- One in 5 women will have a stroke.
- About 55,000 more women than men have a stroke each year.
- Stroke is the No. 4 cause of death in women.
- Stroke kills over 80,000 women a year.
Live Great – Ideas to help kids stay heart and brain health from the American Stroke Association and Dee-1
The American Stroke Association and rapper, Dee-1 want kids (and grownups) everywhere to focus on ways to be active and live longer, healthier lives.
Let's Talk About Stroke Resource Materials
Let's Talk About Stroke Prevention, Risk Factors and Types of Stroke
- Let's Talk About Lifestyle Changes to Prevent Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk about Anticoagulants and Antiplatelet Agents (PDF)
- Let's Talk about Carotid Endarterectomy (PDF)
- Let's Talk about Risk Factors for Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk about High Blood Pressure and Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk About the Connection Between Diabetes and Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk About Black Americans and Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk About Ischemic Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk About Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- Let's Talk about Hemorrhagic Stroke (PDF)
- Let's Talk About Children and Stroke (PDF)