Learn Your Risk Factors

Controllable Factors

Stroke risk factors that we can modify or treat include:

• High blood pressure (also called hypertension)
• Tobacco use
• The occurrence of "warning strokes" (also called "Transient Ischemic Attacks" or "TIAs")
• Diabetes
• Elevated blood cholesterol
• Lack of physical activity
• Obesity
• Unhealthy eating (eating a high fat, high salt, or high sugar diet)

Uncontrollable Factors

Unfortunately, there are a few risk factors that we just cannot change. But, take heart. By doing what we can do to change the controllable risk factors, we can greatly increase our odds of being healthy.
Factors that are uncontrollable include:

• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Family history
• Previous stroke history
• History of heart disease

Additionally, some health care professionals view geographic location, socioeconomic factors, alcohol use, and some drug abuse as contributing risk factors for stroke.