Stroke Risk Factors

Knowing your risk for stroke is the first step in preventing stroke. You can change or treat some risk factors, but others you can’t. By having regular medical checkups and knowing your risk factors, you can focus on what you can change to lower your risk of stroke.

Modifiable risk factors you can change:

• high blood pressure
• diabetes mellitus
• high cholesterol
• tobacco use
• poor diet
• physical inactivity and obesity
• illegal drug use

Non-modifiable risk factors that can’t be changed:

• prior stroke or TIA, or family history
• atrial fibrillation
• carotid artery disease
• heredity and race
• certain blood disorders
• age
• gender