MedifocusHealth

Risk factors for stroke include cardiovascular disease, metabolic conditions, and lifestyle:

• Age - the stroke rate more than doubles for each 10 year period after the age of 55. Elderly patients have more severe strokes, higher fatality rates, and a greater percentage of patients discharged to long-term care facilities.
• Gender - Up to the age of 55, the incidence of stroke is higher in men than women. After age 55, it is evenly distributed. Since women live longer than men, more women than men die each year of stroke.
• Hypertension
• Atrial fibrillation - this is thought to cause almost one half of cardioembolic strokes (clots originating in the heart).
• Hyperhomocysteinemia - elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with poor nutritional intake in the elderly and dietary deficiency of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid.
• Cardiovascular disease
• Carotid stenosis- narrowing of the carotid artery which reduced blood flow to the brain
• Genetic conditions, such as sickle-cell disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Blood clotting abnormalities
• Malformations in the veins or arteries in the brain
• Previous stroke or TIA Social isolation
• Diabetes
• Hyperlipidemia (elevated lipids) or hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol) in the blood
• Obesity
• Cigarette smoking
• Poor diet
• Low levels of body conditioning or physical activity