©Who is at Risk

Certain risk factors make it more likely that you will develop artery disease and have a stroke. Some risk factors for stroke can be controlled, while others can't.

Major risk factors for a stroke that you can control include: • Smoking • High blood pressure • High blood cholesterol • Overweight and obesity • Physical inactivity • Diabetes (high blood sugar) • Atrial Fibrillation • Illicit drug use • Excessive alcohol consumption • Diets high in salt, fried or greasy foods Risk factors that you cannot change include: • Age: Stroke affects all ages but the older you are, the greater your risk of stroke • Heredity: The risk of a stroke is greater in people whose close blood relatives have had a stroke. • Race: African Americans have a higher risk of death and disability from a stroke because they have a greater incidence of high blood pressure. Hispanic Americans are also at an increased risk for stroke due to complications of diabetes. • Prior Stroke: Someone who has had a stroke is at higher risk of having another one. • Gender: While more men have strokes each year, over half of the stroke deaths occur in women. 10